Preparation of High Performance and Ultra-Low Platinum Loading Membrane Electrode Assembly for PEMFC Commercial Application

Abstract

In this paper, we evaluated the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activities of Pt/C, PtCo/C, and PtCoMn/C catalysts using charge-transfer resistance (Rct) and ΔRct onset voltage from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy as indicators in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) over a wide voltage range of 0.66 V∼0.95 V. ORR activity of the PtCoMn/C ternary alloy catalyst is higher than that of Pt/C over a large voltage range. A decal transfer method was used to prepare a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) with PtCoMn/C as a cathode catalyst. The cross-sectional micrograph of MEA-PtCoMn/C was characterized using scanning electron microscopy. A continuous ultrathin cathode catalyst layer that was 3 μm thick was successfully prepared. The performance of MEA-PtCoMn/C with an ultralow Pt loading of 0.147 mg/cm2 was evaluated using the single cell test. The highest achieved power density of MEA-PtCoMn/C was 1.42 W/cm2. The corresponding amount of platinum was 0.1035 gPt/kW, which reaches the index of the Department of Energy (DOE).

Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs): Advances and Challenges

“…Results revealed that a Pt catalyst supported by a high surface area TiO 2 /C (25:75) hybrid gave the most outstanding performance. Ultrathin cathode catalyst layers prepared using the decal transfer method containing carbon-supported electrocatalysts Pt/C, PtCo/C, and PtCoMn/C [ 320 ] were evaluated in terms of charge transfer resistance Rct in a single cell. The achieved high performance with MEA with ultralow Pt loading of 0.147 mg/cm 2 was 1.42 W/cm 2 , as shown in Figure 24 .…”

“… Polarization curves before and after IR free of MEA-PtCoMn/C MEA-PtCo/C and MEA-Pt/C: ( a ) original, ( b ) after IR free. [ 320 ] Reproduced with permission of IOPScience. …”

Effects of Gas Diffusion Layer Porosity Distribution on Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

“…[2,3] Researchers have conducted extensive study on PEMFCs since 2000. In particular, considerable attention has been paid to components that affect fuel cell performance, [4][5][6] life, and durability. [4] A gas diffusion layer (GDL) is an important part of the PEMFC, which is a typical porous material.…”

Effective single web–structured electrode for high membrane electrode assembly performance in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell

“…Subsequently, a CL was sprayed on the anode side of the Nafion HP (20 μm) with a Pt loading of 0.05 mg/cm 2 with sizes of 1 cm by 1 cm and 2.5 cm by 2.5 cm. To prepare a single-web cathode, the synthesized Pt/PCA/gCSW2500 was cut with sizes of (52,54,55,60,62) and the (B) MEA performance of the power density (at 0.65 V) and Pt loading at similar conditions (7,30,31,34,38,39,43,44,46,(62)(63)(64)(65)(66)(67)(68). (C) Durability comparisons of the half cell and MEA test results with latest works (8,27,51,62,69,70).…”

“…Performance summary. Comparisons with recent works on the (A) half-cell performance of the mass and specific activities at H 2 SO 4 solution(52,54,55,60,62) and the (B) MEA performance of the power density (at 0.65 V) and Pt loading at similar conditions(7,30,31,34,38,39,43,44,46,(62)(63)(64)(65)(66)(67)(68). (C) Durability comparisons of the half cell and MEA test results with latest works(8,27,51,62,69,70).…”