CHARACTERIZATION OF A SLIT TYPE ELECTRODE FOR CATHODE IN AN AL-CL-2 FUEL-CELL

The potential of the electrodes of the Al-Cl-2 fuel cell was measured by using Ag/(40mol%AgCl+60mol%NaCl) reference electrode during its pow er generation. The fuel cell was operated with pure aluminum for the a node and slit type electrodes of graphite for the cathode, through whi ch chlorine gas was injected into 25mol%MgCl2 - 75mol%NaCl electrolyte , in a graphite crucible at 1023K. The potential change of the cathode with the output current was much larger than that of the anode, The p otential change of the cathode increased with lowering chlorine supply ing rate and elongating the slit length over 20 mm, because of the mas s transfer resistance around the cathode. The reduction of Cl-2 occurr ed at the 3-phase interface between the electrode, electrolyte and gas , as the slit length of the cathode within 20mm didn't affected the re lationship between the cathode potential and current density per unit length of the 3-phase interfacial area. These results suggest that the chlorine electrode with larger area of the 3-phase interface will be successful in generating electricity with high efficiency.