A self-humidifying acidic–alkaline bipolar membrane fuel cell

Peng, Sikan; Xu, Xin; Lu, Shanfu; Sui, Pang‐Chieh; Djilali, Ned; Xiang, Yan

doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2015.08.104

Cited by 50 publications

(70 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…25,55 The currentvoltage characteristics calculated for a BPM which is rate limited by a bimolecular (mass-action kinetics) recombination mechanism are simply not sufficient to generate the fuel cell current-voltage characteristics shown in these studies.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…15,[21][22][23] However, there have been relatively few attempts to extend this theory to implementation in fuel cell devices. 24,25 In the present study, we explore the application of the hybrid acidalkaline BPM to fuel cells. The theory formalized in this study is applicable to other BPM configurations and applications, making it more general than the present discussions.…”

Section: Journal Of the Electrochemical Society 163 (14) F1572-f1587mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Understanding Transport at the Acid-Alkaline Interface of Bipolar Membranes

Grew

McClure

Chu

et al. 2016

J. Electrochem. Soc.

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The combination of cation exchange membrane (CEM) and anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolytes to form of a hybrid, or bipolar membrane (BPM) electrolyte, can have unique advantages for electrochemical systems including fuel cells, electrolyzers, electrodialysis, and photovoltaic solar-to-fuel devices. However, a major challenge for this approach is the development of a stable and active interfacial region (i.e., junction) that adjoins the CEM and AEM layers. Moreover, a fundamental understanding of transport at the CEM-AEM junction is lacking. Therefore, the present study focuses on the theoretical development and analysis of the nature of the BPM interface. A Poisson-Nernst-Planck (PNP) theory is formalized and applied to a representative BPM interface. The findings are reported in terms of bias (i.e., overpotential) in a galvanic device with respect to CEM and AEM material requirements. Specific attention is paid to our interests in the application of the BPM to a fuel cell device with an acidic (CEM) anode and alkaline (AEM) cathode. We demonstrate that a BPM with an acidic CEM anode and alkaline AEM cathode must promote a trap-assisted type of recombination mechanism under forward bias. Without such a mechanism, large overpotentials are needed to drive ionic recombination processes. Low temperature fuel cells have had difficulty in reaching the mass market despite promise as an efficient and scalable power source. Issues associated with costs, reliability, and ease of integration have made it difficult to disrupt established energy storage and conversion technologies. Fuel cell costs are often driven by the use of noble metal catalysts and fluorinated polymeric electrolytes.1 Numerous research groups explore catalyst materials in search of methods to remove platinum (Pt) and other precious metal electrocatalysts from low temperature fuel cell systems. To their credit, Pt content in polymer electrolyte membrane hydrogen/air fuel cells have dropped from upwards of 5 mg/cm 2 in the 1980s to approximately 0.125-0.3 mg/cm 2 at present. 1,2Other portions of the research community have turned their attention from acidic polymer electrolytes, a type form of cation exchange membrane (CEM), to alkaline anion exchange membrane (AEM) materials. While less mature, AEM materials have been steadily improving with notable improvements in metrics such as conductivity and stability. 3-6The motivation for the move to AEM materials is the recognition that oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) can be performed without Pt-based electrocatalysts. However, the hydrogen and methanol oxidation reaction at an alkaline ionomer-catalyst interface can also experience a voltage penalty associated with specific adsorption of cationic groups and/or other intermediates. [7][8][9] In addition to challenges with catalysts, a fuel cell system's balance of plant (BoP) can turn a simple device into a complex system. The BoP, which is typically comprised of radiators or heat exchangers, humidifiers, flow regulators, and power conditioning components,...

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 93%

Section: Journal Of the Electrochemical Society 163 (14) F1572-f1587mentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding Transport at the Acid-Alkaline Interface of Bipolar Membranes

Grew

McClure

Chu

et al. 2016

J. Electrochem. Soc.

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Section: Ag‐based Catalysts For Fuel Cell Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ag/C catalysts have been used as cathodes for bipolar membrane fuel cells (BPMFCs) that combine a PEM on the anode side and an AEM on the cathode side, operating without external humidification ,. A poor fuel cell performance was observed when using Ag/C cathodes as compared to Pt/C; the P max values at 60 °C were about 27 and 327 mW cm −2 , respectively . The quaternary ammonium polysulfone (QAPS) ionomer content in the Ag/C cathode layer was varied between 10 and 30 wt% in the BPMFCs operating at 25 °C and the best results were obtained at 20 wt% of QAPS ( P max =19.3 mW cm −2 ) …”

Section: Ag‐based Catalysts For Fuel Cell Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Oxygen Reduction Reaction on Silver Catalysts in Alkaline Media: a Minireview

2018

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The development of efficient platinum‐free catalysts for electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is one of the main challenges in the fuel cell research. Silver‐based materials are highly active towards ORR in alkaline conditions and recent achievements in improving the performance of anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) have provoked many scientists to study these catalysts. This minireview is focused on the ORR performance of monometallic Ag catalysts and Ag‐based composites, the electrochemical oxygen reduction behaviour of Ag‐containing alloys is outside the scope of this review. The effect of the morphology of Ag nanostructures on catalysts’ ORR activity and pathway is discussed and the role of the support material is described. The performance of AEMFCs using Ag‐based cathode catalysts is also reviewed.

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“…While much effort in fuel cell development is currently centered on acidic systems using polymer electrolyte membranes, challenges related to water management, sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) kinetics and the high cost of platinum based catalysts have prompted renewed interest in alkaline systems that have inherently higher ORR kinetics and can operate with non-precious metal catalysts [8]. Uhlig et al [9] use a combination of experimental characterization techniques to investigate the stability, activity and preferred pathways of the ORR in cobalt oxide catalysts for anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFC).…”

Section: Materials For Energy Conversionmentioning

confidence: 99%