The Polarization of Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell Electrodes: I . Analysis of Steady‐State Polarization Data

The stationary polarization of small, differential conversion, molten carbonate fuel cells (3 cm 2 ) was measured between 600 and 700°C under various gas compositions. Multiple linear regression was used to correlate the experimental data and to infer the rate‐limiting processes in fuel cell electrodes. The analysis indicates that both the anode and the cathode are primarily under mixed control at 700°C at low partial pressures of . The anode does not exhibit charge‐transfer control under normal operating conditions, due to its very fast kinetics. The Superoxide mechanism appears to be the dominant reaction in a fuel cell cathode.