Claims
- 1. A power generating system comprising a source of hydrogen, a source of fluorine, an electrode assembly including a fluorine cathode, a hydrogen anode, and an electrolyte layer disposed between the cathode and anode, wherein the electrolyte layer comprises KF.xHF and x is at least about 1.
- 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the KF.xHF is disposed in a porous separator member.
- 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrolyte comprises KF.xHF, wherein x is about 2 to about 8.
- 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the separator member is a poly(tetrafluoroethylene) cloth.
- 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the hydrogen anode comprises an electrocatalytic metal selected from the group consisting of platinum, silver, steel, and nickel, and the fluorine cathode comprises a second electrocatalyst selected from the group consisting of non-graphitized carbon powder, graphitized carbon paper.
- 6. The system of claim 5, wherein at least one of the electrocatalysts is disposed on a substrate selected from the group consisting of carbon fiber paper, nickel expanded metal, graphite cloth, graphite felt, woven wire cloth, and porous polymer.
- 7. The system of claim 1, wherein its weight is 10 Kg or less for a 2.2 kW system able to operate for 1 hour.
- 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is a fuel cell system.
- 9. The system of claim 1 wherein the system is a battery.
- 10. A method of generating power comprising the steps of (1) reacting H.sub.2 with F.sub.2 in the presence of an electrolyte layer comprising KF.xHF wherein x is at least about 1 impregnated in a porous separator material so as to generate heat, thereby melting the electrolyte layer; (2) electroreducing fluorine at a fluorine cathode to produce fluoride ions; (3) transporting the fluoride ions across the electrolyte layer; and (4) reacting the fluoride ions with hydrogen at a hydrogen anode to produce hydrogen fluoride and power.
- 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the cell produces power at temperatures of from about -10.degree. to 250.degree. C.
- 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the power generated is at least about 2.0 volts.
- 13. The method of claim 10, wherein x is about 2 to about 8.
- 14. The method of claim 10, wherein x is about 2 to about 5.
U.S. GOVERNMENT RIGHTS
This invention was developed under Dept. of Air Force Contract No. F33615-90-C-2076 and the U.S. Government has certain rights hereto.
US Referenced Citations (4)