Direct deposition of proton exchange membranes enabling high performance hydrogen fuel cells

Klingele, Matthias; Breitwieser, Matthias; Zengerle, Roland; Thiele, Simon

doi:10.1039/c5ta01341k

Cited by 140 publications

(155 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…iR data from 500 mA/cm 2 to the high current density was averaged, corrected for cell resistance, and converted to membrane conductivity according to standard methods. 41 Multiple polarization curves were performed over 3-4 hours following conditioning, or until progressive performance losses were observed.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Control and Effect of Pore Size Distribution in AEMFC Catalyst Layers

Britton

Holdcroft

2016

J. Electrochem. Soc.

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Catalyst ink for anion-exchange catalyst coated membranes based on FuMA-Tech FAA-3 membranes and ionomer typically requires high-boiling solvents. Here, we investigate the disproportionate effect of even small quantities of high-boiling solvent in the catalyst ink on the catalyst layer microstructure. High porosity in the mesoporous regime, 20-100 nm, is found to be an essential characteristic of effective anion-exchange catalyst layers for increasing membrane hydroxide ion conductivity and reducing mass-transport losses. High porosity in the nanoporous regime (<20 nm pore diameter) facilitates improvements in the kinetic region of polarization curves at the expense of mass-transport losses. New strategies are introduced to improve the control of distribution of pore sizes in the catalyst layer and to increase the mesoporosity. Beginning-of-life power densities for O 2 /H 2 anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs), under zero backpressure, were accordingly increased from 276 to 428 mW · cm −2 , placing it among the highest AEMFC power densities reported in the literature under the conditions studied, representing a significant improvement over previously reported performances for FAA-3. The study highlights a need to develop anion-exchange solid polymer ionomers soluble in low-boiling solvents for preparing catalyst inks, and a more rigorous evaluation of porosimetry data and catalyst layer preparation methods for O 2 /H 2 polymer electrolyte fuel cells rely on the electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) (Fig. S1). In proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC), the reactions occur a highly acidic environment and are facile on Pt electrocatalayst.1 An alkaline environment opens the possibility of using stable, high activity, non-noble catalysts, 1-3 but analogous hydroxide-exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFC) are less welldeveloped and the hydroxide ion diffuses more slowly than protons. 4 Nonetheless, comparable membrane conductivities have been shown. 5 Moreover, compared to liquid-based alkaline fuel cells, AEMFCs may confer a higher power density, may have the capacity to function with impurities in the fuel, and have the potential to operate in CO 2 -containing air, 2 especially under high current load. 6 Additionally, as most AEMFCs are hydrocarbon in nature, they may display a lower fuel crossover compared to perfluorosulfonate-based ionomers.A barrier to the development of AEMFC technology concerns the hydroxide-conducting polymer; namely, its poor chemical stability and low ion conductivity under typical fuel cell conditions. The same issue applies even more to the ionomer in the catalyst layer, which experiences rapid variations in hydration-state. In a typical anionexchange ionomer, both the polymer backbone and functional groups are subject to hydroxide attack, e.g., via β-Hoffman elimination or direct nucleophilic displacement of the functional groups.7,8 Cleavage of the polymer backbone primarily affects the mechanical properties of the membrane,...

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Control and Effect of Pore Size Distribution in AEMFC Catalyst Layers

Britton

Holdcroft

2016

J. Electrochem. Soc.

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“…9,17,19 In recent work, direct membrane deposition (DMD) was developed as novel fabrication method for LT-PEMFC membrane electrode assemblies (MEA). 20 This method consists in replacing the conventional membrane foil by two Naon® layers deposited directly on top of anode and cathode gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs). The fuel cell is assembled with the GDEs facing each other.…”

Section: 10mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…20 In this work, a TiO 2 reinforced, Naon®-based MT-PEMFC is presented that was manufactured alike with a directly deposited membrane. By simple pipette drop-casting of a mixture of Naon dispersion and TiO 2 nanoparticles onto gas diffusion electrodes, a thin fuel cell membrane of only 15 mm thickness was realized, yielding a power density of more than 2 W cm À2 at 120 C operation temperature.…”

Section: 10mentioning

confidence: 99%

Directly deposited Nafion/TiO₂ composite membranes for high power medium temperature fuel cells

et al. 2016

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“…There are several papers showing the potential for using RP methods to fabricate elements for fuel cell with complicated shapes or housing characterised by reduced weight and improved heat dissipation designed for mobile applications such as aviation technology and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) [1,[7][8][9][10][11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The process is greatly improved by using the 3D printing process to deposit the layer of platinum. The inkjet printing method is 4 to 5 times faster than screen printing [8,11]. The main parameters that determine the application of a single membrane in a PEMFC designed stack are power output, stability of electrical parameters under load, and water management.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Rapid prototyping methods for the manufacture of fuel cells

2016

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Abstract. The term rapid prototyping (RP) is widely used to describe technologies which create physical prototypes directly from digital data. The first methods for rapid prototyping became available in the late 1980s and were used to produce models and prototype parts. Three-dimensional (3D) rapid prototyping methods are widely employed in various areas of manufacturing, research, and education. Typical applications include engineering, architecture, and medicine. The present level of technical and commercial demand requires the development of faster and cheaper methodologies for the design and execution of structures. Various techniques based on CAD platforms and rapid prototyping are available. Parts can be produced in a variety of materials: polymers, metal, paper, ceramics, and composites. The RP method also enables the production of prototypes useful for analysing the characteristics of a complex system (e.g. interference between dynamic parts, geometric evaluation, quality, and reliability). RP technologies can produce very complex parts which are impossible or difficult to produce by traditional methods. This paper presents typical applications of rapid prototyping technology for the manufacture of mechanical parts for fuel cells, such as housing parts or bipolar plates which supply reactants (hydrogen to anodes and oxygen to cathodes), conduct electrons from one cell to the next, remove waste heat from cells, and provide mechanical support for cells in a stack. Conventional graphite or composite materials can be replaced by lighter metallic materials characterised by vastly superior manufacturability and cost effectiveness, greater mechanical strength, increased durability and resistance to shock and vibration, and zero permeability. The potential for the application of this method for the manufacture of metallic bipolar plates (BPP) for use in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is presented and discussed. Special attention is paid to the fabrication of light elements for the construction of PEMFC stacks designed for mobile applications such as aviation technology and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

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Direct deposition of proton exchange membranes enabling high performance hydrogen fuel cells

Abstract: Fuel cells with directly deposited membrane (DDM) reveal an ultra low membrane resistance and outperform conventional catalyst coated membranes (CCM).

Cited by 140 publications

References 21 publications

The Control and Effect of Pore Size Distribution in AEMFC Catalyst Layers

The Control and Effect of Pore Size Distribution in AEMFC Catalyst Layers

Directly deposited Nafion/TiO₂ composite membranes for high power medium temperature fuel cells

Rapid prototyping methods for the manufacture of fuel cells

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Direct deposition of proton exchange membranes enabling high performance hydrogen fuel cells

Abstract: Fuel cells with directly deposited membrane (DDM) reveal an ultra low membrane resistance and outperform conventional catalyst coated membranes (CCM).

Cited by 140 publications

References 21 publications

The Control and Effect of Pore Size Distribution in AEMFC Catalyst Layers

The Control and Effect of Pore Size Distribution in AEMFC Catalyst Layers

Directly deposited Nafion/TiO2 composite membranes for high power medium temperature fuel cells

Rapid prototyping methods for the manufacture of fuel cells

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Product

Resources

About

Directly deposited Nafion/TiO₂ composite membranes for high power medium temperature fuel cells