A PROTON-CONDUCTING SOLID-STATE H2S-O-2 FUEL-CELL - 1 - ANODE CATALYSTS, AND OPERATION AT ATMOSPHERIC-PRESSURE AND 20-90-DEGREES-C

A stable solid stale H2S-O-2 fuel cell has been developed and operated at 1 atm and 20-90 degrees C. A series of anode catalysts has been ex amined using Nafion(R) as a common proton conducting membrane; those c ontaining Pd and Pt were found to be effective using H-2 or H2S as the anode feed gas, but MoS2-C catalysts were effective for use of H2S bu t not for H-2. The highest potential attained using H2S and Pd/C catal yst was 722 mV (theory: 1140 mV). When H2S was used as anode feed the potential decreased up to 35% over 24 h as sulfur was deposited on the anode. The efficiency of the cell increased with temperature up to 90 degrees C. (C) 1998 International Association for Hydrogen Energy.