Three-electrode solid-state fuel cell for evaluating working electrodes

Development of a commercial solid-state fuel cell depends on identification of suitable catalytic electrodes to replace platinum. A three-electrode test cell for electrode evaluation is reported. The solid protonic electrolyte used was dodecamolybdophosphoric acid, H₃Mo₁₂PO₄₀·29H₂O, and a thin platinum wire inserted into the electrolyte served as the third electrode. Reproducibility and insensitivity to third-electrode position were demonstrated. The third electrode measures separately the anode and cathode interfacial resistances, thus providing a direct measure of the relative catalytic activity of a given test electrode. Application of the technique is illustrated.