Abstract
The behavior of a small-scale flow alkaline fuel cell (AFC) built-up for on-site production of HO 2 − using commercial gas-diffusion electrodes has been studied. It produces a spontaneous current due to the oxidation of H 2 to H 2 O at the H 2 -diffusion anode and the reduction of O 2 to HO 2 − at the O 2 -diffusion cathode, while a fresh 1.0–6.0 mol dm −3 KOH electrolyte at 15.0–45.0 °C is injected through it. Under circulation of HO 2 − +KOH solutions in open circuit, the flow AFC behaves as a two-electron reversible system. When it is shorted with an external load ( R ext ), steady cell voltage–current density curves are found. The use of O 2 /N 2 mixtures to fed the cathode causes a loss of its performance, being required to supply pure O 2 to yield a maximum HO 2 − electrogeneration. The current density and HO 2 − productivity increase with raising OH − concentration, temperature and pressure of O 2 fed. At R ext =0.10 Ω, a current efficiency close to 100% is obtained, and current densities >100 mA cm −2 are achieved for 1.0 mol dm −3 KOH at 45.0 °C and for higher KOH concentrations at 25.0 °C. The flow AFC can work under optimum conditions up to 6.0 mol dm −3 KOH and 45.0 °C for possible industrial applications.
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