POROUS NICKEL ANODE FOR MOLTEN-CARBONATE ELECTROLYTE FUEL-CELL

The dependence of polarization of porous nickel electrodes in the carb onate fuel cell (CFC) on the composition of initial nickel powders was studied. The anodes were prepared from PNK-0.1 and PNE-1 nickel powde rs and ultradispersed nickel (UNP) that was obtained by means of micro explosion (specific areas 0.64, 0.15, and 6.1 m2/g, respectively). The optimum composition of the nickel powders required for the preparatio n of porous anodes was determined. On the basis of anode polarization measurements were taken at a constant current density, and temperature dependence of polarization for various anode compositions, it is conc luded that porous nickel anode of CFC works in the conditions of mixed diffusive-kinetic constraints. Kinetic constraint is dominant for ele ctrodes with a developed surface (containing UNP). These results can b e utilized for the modeling of large scale CFC batteries.