(US4980248-A)      Molten carbonate fuel cell comprises, in ceombination, a) an electrolytic layer comprising an electrolyte contg Li2C03 and K2C03 and a cpd which is inactive to the electrolyte; b) a fuel electrode; c) an air electrode, electrodes b) and c) being juxtaposed to and in contact with layer a), in a manner to hold the same between them, the structural members of electrode c) comprising materials which tend to cause diminution of the Li/K ratio in the electrolyte; d) a gas chamber, to the side of electrode b), which is constructed with a current collecting plate, a gas flow passage plate and a separator; and e) another gas chamber, to the side of the electrode c), which is constructed with a current collecting plate, a gas flow passage plate and a separator. A Li-contg composite oxide (I) is carried in the fuel cell.    (I) brings about chemical reaction to produce Li2C03 when Li:K ratio in the electrolyte reduces, due to the change in the ratios between Li and other elements, during a period when in the electrolyte, comprising mainly Li2C03 and K2C03, varies from 40:60 to 70:30, at 600-700 deg C, in a gas atmos of the air electrode side. (I) is carried in the fuel cell in at least one of the relationships: a) on or in the electrolytic layer at its side facing the air electrode; b) in the air electrode per se; and c) on the structural members of the air electrode side gas chamber.    ADVANTAGE -   New Cell has a stabilised battery characteristic over a long period.    (8pp)    (JP2813350-B2)      A fuel cell of the molten carbonate type comprising: an electrolytic layer composed of an electrolysis and a substance which is inert w.r.t. the electroyte; a fuel electrode and an air electrode, both adjacent to and in contact with the electrolytic layer and situated so that the electrolytic layer lies between them; a gas space adjacent to the fuel electrode, which is provided with a current collector plate, a gas permeable plate and a separator; and another gas space adjacent to the air electrode, which is also provided with a current collector plate, a gas permeable plate and a separator. A Li-contg. composite oxide is present in at least one of the electrolytic layer on the side against the air electrode, the air electrode itself and the structural components of the gas space at the side of the air electrode, the oxide causing a chemical reaction when the ratio of Li to K in the electrolyte falls, to form Li2CO3 as a result of the alteration in the ratio between Li and other elements, during a period which the Li/K ratio in an electrolyte consisting mainly of Li2CO3 and K2CO3 is held at 40/60 to 70/30 at a temp. of 600-700 deg.C in the gas atmos. at the side of the air electrode.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The presence of the composite oxide, esp. LiFeO2, causes replacement: of Li2CO3 consumed from the electrolyte by reaction with structural components of the cell during operation of the cell, so that the cell provides stabilised battery characteristics over extended periods of use.