An air-breathing H2/air cell design suitable for fast screening of electrolytes

An air-breathing H2/air cell was designed for fast screening of electrolytes. In this study various electrolytes, including organic, inorganic, acidic, and basic electrolytes, were screened by comparing their effect on cell discharge performance. Focusing on organic alkaline electrolytes, several tetraalkyl ammonium hydroxide electrolytes with different molecular size and concentrations were investigated at different operating temperatures. Both electrolyte concentration and operating temperature significantly affect the cell's performance. The effect of CO2 and some acids on alkaline electrolyte's impedance and cell's discharge performance was also investigated.

► An air-breathing H2/air cell was designed for fast screening of aqueous electrolytes.
► A series of tetraalkyl ammonium hydroxide electrolytes, and their carbonate, acetate and sulfate were screened.
► The difference of alkyls is only slightly affecting the fuel cell's performance.
► Cell performance increases with electrolyte concentration until reaching 1.0 M.
► 70–90% decrease of cell performance was observed when tetraalkyl ammonium hydroxide was replaced by tetraalkyl ammonium carbonate, acetate and sulfate.