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Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy / Volume 1 / Issue 4 / REGULAR ARTICLES

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J. Renewable Sustainable Energy 1, 043102 (2009); doi:10.1063/1.3167284 (11 pages)

Investigation into polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell characteristics using four-layer electrode catalyst

Masahiro Ide1 and Hironosuke Ikeda2

1Osaka Science and Technology Center, 1-8-4 Utsubo-honmachi, Nishi-ku, Osaka 550-0004, Japan
2Graduate School of Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga-koen, Kasuga-shi, Fukuoka, 816-8580, Japan

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(Received 24 March 2009; accepted 10 June 2009; published online 1 July 2009)

The use of auxiliary power and the cost of using main power decrease when the reactive gas is applied at low humidity for the operation of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. The electrolyte membrane and the three-phase boundary of the electrode need to be improved to maintain this low humidity. We carried out a study of the electrode catalyst at low humidity in order to improve the cathode catalyst. Carbon support with a catalyst and fluorocarbon resin were mixed and then were treated at the melting temperature of fluorocarbon resin to fabricate the cathode-electrode catalyst layer. The transmission electron microscopy images of this electrode catalyst revealed that the surfaces of the catalyst particle and the carbon support were partly coated with a thin film of melted fluorocarbon resin. Ionomer electrolyte material was added to this electrode catalyst, and an electrode catalyst with a four-layer structure was fabricated. The durability of this four-layer electrode catalyst being operated at low humidity (42% relative humidity on the anode and the cathode) was evaluated by using a cell that contained the catalyst. The results demonstrated that the rate of deterioration was smaller than that of a conventional three-layer electrode catalyst. In addition, the load change test to assess the durability of the cell (current range between 75 and 600 mA cm−2) produced good results.

© 2009 American Institute of Physics

Article Outline

  1. INTRODUCTION
  2. EXPERIMENTAL
    1. Materials
      1. Electrode catalyst
      2. Polymer electrolyte membrane material
      3. Ionomer
      4. Microporous gas diffusion layer and macroporous gas diffusion layer
    2. Structure of test cells
    3. Fabrication of MEA
    4. Operating conditions for durability test
      1. Standard operating conditions
      2. Low-humidity operating conditions
      3. Load change test
    5. Electrochemical measurements and analysis
  3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
    1. Electrode catalyst with four-layer structure
    2. Cross section of MEA and mapping of elements
    3. Performance of cells under standard operating conditions
    4. Change in active surface area of cathode catalyst
    5. Test for durability under low-humidity operating conditions
    6. Load change test
    7. Study of four-layer electrode catalyst
      1. Four-layer electrode catalyst
      2. Change in ECSA
      3. The reports from other researchers
      4. Effect of the FEP coating with the thin film
  4. CONCLUSION

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KEYWORDS and PACS

Keywords

catalysts, durability, electrochemical electrodes, electrolytes, proton exchange membrane fuel cells, resins, transmission electron microscopy

PACS

  • 82.47.Nj

    Polymer-electrolyte fuel cells (PEFC)

  • 82.45.Fk

    Electrodes

  • 82.65.+r

    Surface and interface chemistry; heterogeneous catalysis at surfaces

  • 82.45.Gj

    Electrolytes

  • 88.30.pd

    Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEM)

  • 88.30.M-

    Fuel cell component materials

  • 82.45.Jn

    Surface structure, reactivity and catalysis

ARTICLE DATA

Permalink
http://link.aip.org/link/doi/10.1063/1.3167284

PUBLICATION DATA

ISSN:

1941-7012 (print)  
1941-7012 (online)

Publisher:

$abstract.society.value is a Member of CrossRef American Institute of Physics

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Figures (click on thumbnails to view enlargements)

FIG.1
Composition of a single cell.

FIG.1 Download High Resolution Image (.zip file) | Export Figure to PowerPoint

FIG.2
Flow chart of MEA fabrication on decal process.

FIG.2 Download High Resolution Image (.zip file) | Export Figure to PowerPoint

FIG.3
TEM images of the catalyst: (a) before heat treatment and [(b) and (c)] after heat treatment. Scales: 200 and 20 nm.

FIG.3 Download High Resolution Image (.zip file) | Export Figure to PowerPoint

FIG.4
Image model of the cathode catalyst: (a) four-layer electrode catalyst and (b) three-layer electrode catalyst.

FIG.4 Download High Resolution Image (.zip file) | Export Figure to PowerPoint

FIG.5
Mapping images by EPMA: (a) cross section of MEA and mapping for (b) platinum, (c) ruthenium, (d) cobalt, and (e) fluorine.

FIG.5 Download High Resolution Image (.zip file) | Export Figure to PowerPoint

FIG.6
Comparison of durability of the three-layer electrode catalyst (○) and the four-layer electrode catalyst (▲) under standard operating condition, 100% RH for the anode, and 66% RH for the cathode. Current density of 300 mA cm−2 and cell temperature at 80 °C.

FIG.6 Download High Resolution Image (.zip file) | Export Figure to PowerPoint

FIG.7
Change in ECSA of the three-layer electrode catalyst (○) and the four-layer electrode catalyst (◼). Current density of 300 mA cm−2, cell temperature at 80 °C, 100% RH for the anode, and 66% RH for the cathode.

FIG.7 Download High Resolution Image (.zip file) | Export Figure to PowerPoint

FIG.8
Comparison of durability of the three-layer electrode catalyst (▲) and the four-layer electrode catalyst (○) under 42% RH for the cathode and 100% RH for the anode. Current density of 300 mA cm−2 and cell temperature at 80 °C.

FIG.8 Download High Resolution Image (.zip file) | Export Figure to PowerPoint

FIG.9
Comparison of durability of the three-layer electrode catalyst (○) and the four-layer electrode catalyst (▲) under 42% RH for both the anode and the cathode. Current density of 300 mA cm−2 and cell temperature at 80 °C.

FIG.9 Download High Resolution Image (.zip file) | Export Figure to PowerPoint

FIG.10
Variation of the cell voltage during the last 200 cycles in the load change test of the four-layer electrode catalyst. Cell temperature at 80 °C, 100% RH for the anode, and 66% RH for the cathode.

FIG.10 Download High Resolution Image (.zip file) | Export Figure to PowerPoint

FIG.11
Variation of the cell voltage in the load change test of the four-layer electrode catalyst. Cell temperature at 80 °C, 100% RH for the anode, and 66% RH for the cathode. (●) At 1.88 A (75 mA cm−2) and (○) at 15 A (600 mA cm−2).

FIG.11 Download High Resolution Image (.zip file) | Export Figure to PowerPoint



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