Effect of alloying elements on the copper-base anode for molten carbonate fuel cells

The effects of aluminium and chromium on the structural stability and the electrochemical performance of porous Cu---Ni anodes for the molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) are examined in a simulated MCFC anode environment (923 K, 80% H2-20% CO2). The addition of aluminium and chromium inhibits porous Cu---Ni anodes from being sintered because of the formation of aluminium oxide and chromium oxide on their surfaces. Electrochemical performance is evaluated in terms of anodic polarization in a half-cell system. At an anodic overpotential of 100 mV, the current density for H2 oxidation of the Cu-Ni-Al anodes is about 85 mA cm−2. The current densities of the Cu---Ni and Cu---Ni---Cr anodes were, however, 114 and 112 mA cm−2, respectively.