Focusing Research by Developing Performance Related Selection Criteria for PEMFC Contaminants

St‐Pierre, Jean; Angelo, Michael; Zhai, Yunfeng

doi:10.1149/1.3635561

Cited by 22 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…In many cases, the cathode simply undergoes recovery or self-recovery after the PEMFC is exposed to neat (e.g., contaminant-free) air, and the contaminants simply desorb. This situation is the case for most unsaturated hydrocarbons and oxygen-containing hydrocarbon contaminants, e.g., aromatics, alkynes, alkenes, carbonyls, ketones, aldehydes, and alcohols (toluene, acetylene, propene, acetone, acetaldehyde, and isopropanol). − …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recently, our groups attempted to determine the overall impact of airborne pollutants on PEMFC performance by considering functionality, reactivity, atmospheric concentrations, literature reports, industry suggestions, and toxicity to humans. , Twenty-one contaminants were selected from the more than 150 airborne and indoor pollutants detected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for experimentation. , The single cell performance response to each of these 21 contaminants was investigated under operating conditions that accelerate contamination . Chlorobenzene (ClB, C 6 H 5 Cl), one of the most critical contaminants, was found to degrade cell performance by greater than 90%.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…10,11 Twenty-one contaminants were selected from the more than 150 airborne and indoor pollutants detected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for experimentation. 10,11 The single cell performance response to each of these 21 contaminants was investigated under operating conditions that accelerate contamination. 11 Chlorobenzene (ClB, C 6 H 5 Cl), one of the most critical contaminants, was found to degrade cell performance by greater than 90%.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Chlorobenzene Poisoning and Recovery of Platinum-Based Cathodes in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

et al. 2015

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The platinum electrocatalysts found in proton exchange membrane fuel cells are poisoned both reversibly and irreversibly by air pollutants and residual manufacturing contaminants. In this work, the poisoning of a Pt/C PEMFC cathode was probed by a trace of chlorobenzene in the air feed. Chlorobenzene inhibits the oxygen reduction reaction and causes significant cell performance loss. The performance loss is largely restored by neat air operation and potential cycling between 0.08 V and 1.2 V under H2/N2 (anode/cathode). The analysis of emissions, in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectra show the chlorobenzene adsorption/reaction and molecular orientation on Pt surface depend on the electrode potential. At low potentials, chlorobenzene deposits either on top of adsorbed H atoms or on the Pt surface via the benzene ring and is converted to benzene (ca. 0.1 V) or cyclohexane (ca. 0 V) upon Cl removal. At potentials higher than 0.2 V, chlorobenzene binds to Pt via the Cl atom and can be converted to benzene (less than 0.3 V) or desorbed. Cl− is created and remains in the membrane electrode assembly. Cl− binds to the Pt surface much stronger than chlorobenzene, but can slowly be flushed out by liquid water.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Chlorobenzene Poisoning and Recovery of Platinum-Based Cathodes in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

et al. 2015

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“…In fact, many organic compounds can contaminate the MEA. Those compounds include acetaldehyde, toluene, propane, vinyl acetate, methyl methacrylate, acetonitrile, dichloromethane, acetylene, chlorobenzene, formic acid, methanol, ethanol, phenol, butane, acetone, and naphthalene [93][94][95], and the list is expanding. The main reason that so many contaminants were found is that the catalysts used in common MEAs are Pt-based.…”

Section: Mea Degradationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electrochemical Hydrogenation of Acetone to Produce Isopropanol Using a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Reactor

Sallee

Zhang

et al. 2018

Energies

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Electrochemical hydrogenation (ECH) of acetone is a relatively new method to produce isopropanol. It provides an alternative way of upgrading bio-fuels with less energy consumption and chemical waste as compared to conventional methods. In this paper, Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) hardware was used as an electrochemical reactor to hydrogenate acetone to produce isopropanol and diisopropyl ether as a byproduct. High current efficiency (59.7%) and selectivity (>90%) were achieved, while ECH was carried out in mild conditions (65 °C and atmospheric pressure). Various operating parameters were evaluated to determine their effects on the yield of acetone and the overall efficiency of ECH. The results show that an increase in humidity increased the yield of propanol and the efficiency of ECH. The operating temperature and power supply, however, have less effect. The degradation of membranes due to contamination of PEMFC and the mitigation methods were also investigated.

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“…This ultimately influences the reaction kinetics . For instance, the presence of a minute amount of acrylonitrile (AcN) could effectively reduce the catalytic activity of Pt catalyst toward the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR, the typical cathodic reaction for all FCs). , In the same context, a significant loss in the catalytic performance of FCs has been observed in the presence of vinyl acetate (VA), which represents a typical example for airborne hydrocarbon contaminants. , However, the conventional negative impact (as pollution, deactivation, and poisoning) that always delivered to the brain when just hearing the word “impurity” may not actually apply for all contaminations and reactions. For instance, in the presence of AcN an outstanding enhancement in the catalytic activity (3 orders of magnitude) of FAO at Pt nanoparticles (nano-Pt) is observed …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impurities Contributing to Catalysis: Enhanced Electro-Oxidation of Formic Acid at Pt/GC Electrodes in the Presence of Vinyl Acetate

et al. 2014

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Here we demonstrate a remarkable enhancement of the direct formic acid electro-oxidation (FAO) to CO2 (dehydrogenation pathway, I p d) at Pt nanoparticle-modified GC (nano-Pt/GC) electrodes, in the presence of minute amount (∼ppm) of vinyl acetate (VA), while suppressing the dehydration pathway (producing the poisoning intermediate CO, I p ind). An excellent electrocatalytic activity of the nano-Pt/GC catalyst for FAO was found in the presence of VA (a possible contaminant) as revealed by comparing the intensity of the corresponding two oxidation peaks I p d and I p ind observed respectively at 0.25 and 0.75 V vs Ag/AgCl/KCl(sat.). The degree of enhancement of I p d depends on the surface coverage (θ) of VA at Pt nanoparticles. VA is believed to adsorb and consequently interrupt the surface contiguity of the Pt active sites favorable for CO poisoning. XPS measurements revealed a change in the electronic properties of Pt in the presence of VA in such a way that favors the charge transfer during the FAO and/or impedes/weakens the adsorption of the poisoning CO. Interestingly, VA (in ppm concentration) improves the electrode’s stability during FAO and also its catalytic tolerance against poisoning with chloride ions. Several indices were developed to measure the catalytic activity of the electrode in the absence and presence of VA, and several techniques as FE-SEM, XRD, EDX, and XPS were employed in the revelation of the electrode’s morphology, crystal structure, composition, and binding energy.

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Focusing Research by Developing Performance Related Selection Criteria for PEMFC Contaminants

Cited by 22 publications

References 7 publications

Chlorobenzene Poisoning and Recovery of Platinum-Based Cathodes in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Chlorobenzene Poisoning and Recovery of Platinum-Based Cathodes in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Electrochemical Hydrogenation of Acetone to Produce Isopropanol Using a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Reactor

Impurities Contributing to Catalysis: Enhanced Electro-Oxidation of Formic Acid at Pt/GC Electrodes in the Presence of Vinyl Acetate

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