Commissariat a L'energie Atomique

Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique

Universitè De Montpellier

Commissariat &#xc0; L'&#xc9;nergie Atomique Et Aux &#xc9;nergies Alternatives

Universite De Montpellier II

Max Perrin

Jean-Yves Laurent

Didier Marsacq

Audrey Martinent

Christel Roux

Jean Olivier Durand

Mauricio Schieda

Stephanie Roualdes

Emmanuel Damery

John A Brunea

Jean Durand

An electrode for an alkali fuel cell comprises an active layer formed by a bilayer or by a stack of a plurality of bilayers. Each bilayer is composed of a catalytic layer comprising catalyst particles of nanometric size and of a porous layer comprising two opposite faces one of which is in contact with the catalytic layer. The porous layer is made from a porous composite material comprising a hydroxide ion conducting polymer matrix in which a metallic lattice is formed constituting a plurality of electronically conducting paths connecting the two opposite faces of the porous layer. Advantageously, fabrication of such an electrode is obtained by successively performing vacuum deposition of the catalyst particles and vacuum co-deposition of the hydroxide ion conducting polymer and of the metal on a free surface of a support.

Electrode for alkali fuel cell and method for making a fuel cell including at least one step of making such an electrode

An alkali fuel cell comprises a solid stack consisting of a first electrode, a solid membrane conducting hydroxide ions and a second electrode, each electrode comprising an active layer that is in contact with the solid membrane. The material forming the active layer of each electrode comprises at least a catalytic element, an electronic conductive element and an element conducting hydroxide ions. The element conducting hydroxide ions is a polymer having vinylaromatic units comprising a quaternary ammonium function and a hydroxide ion OHis associated with each quaternary ammonium function. One such alkali fuel cell is unaffected by carbonation and maintains good electrochemical performances.

Alkali fuel cell unaffected by carbonation

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Le Fontanil Cornillon, France

Max Perrin