Anode for use in a fuel cell and method for making same
A method of making an anode element for use in a fuel cell, comprising providing a first amount of Ni—Al alloy material having a predetermined aluminum content, providing a second amount of Ni—Cr alloy material having a predetermined chromium content, providing at least one additive component, mixing the Ni—Al alloy material, the Ni—Cr alloy material and the at least one additive component to produce a slurry and forming the slurry into the anode element.
1. An anode electrode for use in a fuel cell comprising a porous electrode element formed from a first predetermined amount of Ni—Al alloy material having a predetermined aluminum content, and a second predetermined amount of Ni—Cr alloy material having a predetermined chromium content, wherein the first predetermined amount of Ni—Al alloy material comprises between 70 and 95 weight % of a total alloy weight and the second predetermined amount of the Ni—Cr alloy material comprises between 5 and 30 weight % of the total alloy weight.
2. An anode electrode in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said aluminum content of said Ni—Al alloy material is between 2 and 4 weight % and said chromium content of said Ni—Cr alloy material is between 2 and 15 weight %.
3. An anode electrode in accordance with claim 2 , wherein said Ni—Al alloy material comprises Ni-3Al alloy and said Ni—Cr alloy material comprises Ni-4Cr alloy.
4. An anode electrode in accordance with claim 2 , wherein said Ni—Al alloy material comprises Ni—Al having a mean particle size of 20 μm and said Ni—Cr alloy material comprises Ni—Cr having a mean particle size between 5 μm and 15 μm.
5. An anode electrode in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising at least one additive component including at least one of a binder and a plasticizer.
6. An anode electrode in accordance with claim 5 , wherein said at least one additive component is first mixed with at least one of a dispersant and a solvent before being mixed with said Ni—Al alloy material and said Ni—Cr alloy material to produce a slurry and wherein said slurry is tape cast and dried at room temperature to form said anode electrode.
7. An anode electrode in accordance with claim 6 , wherein said binder comprises an acryloid binder, said dispersant comprises fish oil and said solvent comprises reagent alcohol.
8. An anode electrode in accordance with claim 6 , wherein said anode electrode has a thickness of 6.5 to 7 mils and drying said slurry at room temperature.
9. A fuel cell comprising:
an anode section;
a cathode section; and
an electrolyte matrix disposed between said anode section and said cathode section;
said anode section comprising a porous anode electrode formed from a first predetermined amount of Ni—Al alloy material having a predetermined aluminum content and a second predetermined amount of Ni—Cr alloy material having a predetermined chromium content, wherein the first predetermined amount of Ni—Al alloy material comprises between 70 and 95 weight % of a total alloy weight and the second predetermined amount of the Ni—Cr alloy material comprises between 5 and 30 weight % of the total alloy weight.
10. A fuel cell in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said predetermined aluminum content of said Ni—Al alloy material is between 2 and 4 weight % and said predetermined chromium content of said Ni—Cr alloy material is between 2 and 15 weight %.
11. A fuel cell in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said Ni—Al alloy material comprises Ni-3Al alloy and said Ni—Cr alloy material comprises Ni-4Cr alloy.
12. A fuel cell in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said Ni—Al alloy material comprises Ni—Al having a mean particle size of 20 μm and said Ni—Cr alloy material comprises Ni—Cr having a mean particle size between 5 μm and 15 μm.
13. A fuel cell in accordance with claim 9 , wherein further comprising at least one additive component including at least one of a binder and a plasticizer.
14. A fuel cell in accordance with claim 13 , wherein said at least one additive component being mixed with at least one of a dispersant and a solvent before being mixed with said Ni—Al alloy material and said Ni—Cr alloy material to produce a slurry and wherein said slurry is tape cast and dried at room temperature to form said anode electrode.
15. A fuel cell in accordance with claim 14 , wherein said binder comprises an acryloid binder, said dispersant comprises fish oil and said solvent comprises reagent alcohol.
16. A fuel cell in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said anode electrode has a thickness of 6.5 to 7 mils.
17. A fuel cell in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said fuel cell is a molten carbonate fuel cell.