Abstract: Fuel cells containing an anode of molten metal into which carbon has been dissolved, and a carbon-ion electrolyte, can be improved by making the molten metal the same that used as the cation in the solid carbon-ion electrolyte. Molten metals so selected are advantageous to use with carbon-ion electrolytes with the fluorite or perovskite prototype crystal structures. The improved device is an electrochemical fuel cell consisting of a cathode in contact with oxygen, an anode of liquid metal, especially molten metals of the lanthanide group or actinide group containing dissolved carbon, and a lanthanide- or actinide-containing carbon-ion electrolyte separating the anode and cathode electrodes.

Abstract: Carbon-ion electrolytes, combined into a fuel cell containing an electrode of liquid metal into which carbon or coal has been dissolved, can be used for producing electric power by the flameless combustion of coal via an electrochemical process. The resulting device is an electrochemical cell consisting of a cathodic electrode in contact with oxygen, an anodic electrode of liquid metal solvent containing dissolved carbon, and a carbon-ion electrolyte separating the anode and cathode electrodes.