Effect of Polytetrafluorethylene Content in Fe‐N‐C‐Based Catalyst Layers of Gas Diffusion Electrodes for HT‐PEM Fuel Cell Applications

Abstract Fe‐N‐C catalysts are a promising alternative to replace cost‐intensive Pt‐based catalysts in high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (HT‐PEMFC) electrodes. However, the electrode fabrication needs to be adapted for this new class of catalysts. In this study, gas diffusion el...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Tanja Zierdt, Dr. Julia Müller‐Hülstede, Dr. Henrike Schmies, Dr. Dana Schonvogel, Peter Wagner, Prof. Dr. K. Andreas Friedrich
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley-VCH 2024-03-01
Series:ChemElectroChem
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/celc.202300583
_version_ 1827336702368153600
author Tanja Zierdt
Dr. Julia Müller‐Hülstede
Dr. Henrike Schmies
Dr. Dana Schonvogel
Peter Wagner
Prof. Dr. K. Andreas Friedrich
author_facet Tanja Zierdt
Dr. Julia Müller‐Hülstede
Dr. Henrike Schmies
Dr. Dana Schonvogel
Peter Wagner
Prof. Dr. K. Andreas Friedrich
author_sort Tanja Zierdt
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Fe‐N‐C catalysts are a promising alternative to replace cost‐intensive Pt‐based catalysts in high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (HT‐PEMFC) electrodes. However, the electrode fabrication needs to be adapted for this new class of catalysts. In this study, gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) are fabricated using a commercial Fe‐N‐C catalyst and different polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) binder ratios, varying from 10 to 50 wt % in the catalyst layer (CL). The oxygen reduction reaction performance is investigated under HT‐PEMFC conditions (160 °C, conc. H3PO4 electrolyte) in a half‐cell setup. The acidophilic character of the Fe‐N‐C catalyst leads to intrusion of phosphoric acid electrolyte into the CL. The strength of the acid penetration depends on the PTFE content, which is visible via the contact angles. The 10 wt % PTFE GDE is less capable to withdraw product water and electrolyte and results into the lowest half‐cell performance. Higher PTFE contents counterbalance the acid drag into the CL and impede flooding. The power density at around 130 mA mgCatalyst−2 increases by 34 % from 10 to 50 wt % PTFE.
first_indexed 2024-03-07T18:38:56Z
format Article
id doaj.art-0d4223d0b53d4e7590cee02cc3a70d02
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2196-0216
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-07T18:38:56Z
publishDate 2024-03-01
publisher Wiley-VCH
record_format Article
series ChemElectroChem
spelling doaj.art-0d4223d0b53d4e7590cee02cc3a70d022024-03-02T04:26:51ZengWiley-VCHChemElectroChem2196-02162024-03-01115n/an/a10.1002/celc.202300583Effect of Polytetrafluorethylene Content in Fe‐N‐C‐Based Catalyst Layers of Gas Diffusion Electrodes for HT‐PEM Fuel Cell ApplicationsTanja Zierdt0Dr. Julia Müller‐Hülstede1Dr. Henrike Schmies2Dr. Dana Schonvogel3Peter Wagner4Prof. Dr. K. Andreas Friedrich5Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics German Aerospace Center (DLR) Carl-von-Ossietzky-Str. 15 26129 Oldenburg GermanyInstitute of Engineering Thermodynamics German Aerospace Center (DLR) Carl-von-Ossietzky-Str. 15 26129 Oldenburg GermanyInstitute of Engineering Thermodynamics German Aerospace Center (DLR) Carl-von-Ossietzky-Str. 15 26129 Oldenburg GermanyInstitute of Engineering Thermodynamics German Aerospace Center (DLR) Carl-von-Ossietzky-Str. 15 26129 Oldenburg GermanyInstitute of Engineering Thermodynamics German Aerospace Center (DLR) Carl-von-Ossietzky-Str. 15 26129 Oldenburg GermanyInstitute of Engineering Thermodynamics German Aerospace Center (DLR) Pfaffenwaldring 38–40 70569 Stuttgart GermanyAbstract Fe‐N‐C catalysts are a promising alternative to replace cost‐intensive Pt‐based catalysts in high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (HT‐PEMFC) electrodes. However, the electrode fabrication needs to be adapted for this new class of catalysts. In this study, gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) are fabricated using a commercial Fe‐N‐C catalyst and different polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) binder ratios, varying from 10 to 50 wt % in the catalyst layer (CL). The oxygen reduction reaction performance is investigated under HT‐PEMFC conditions (160 °C, conc. H3PO4 electrolyte) in a half‐cell setup. The acidophilic character of the Fe‐N‐C catalyst leads to intrusion of phosphoric acid electrolyte into the CL. The strength of the acid penetration depends on the PTFE content, which is visible via the contact angles. The 10 wt % PTFE GDE is less capable to withdraw product water and electrolyte and results into the lowest half‐cell performance. Higher PTFE contents counterbalance the acid drag into the CL and impede flooding. The power density at around 130 mA mgCatalyst−2 increases by 34 % from 10 to 50 wt % PTFE.https://doi.org/10.1002/celc.202300583ElectrocatalystFe-N-CGas Diffusion ElectrodeHigh-Temperature PEMFCPTFE
spellingShingle Tanja Zierdt
Dr. Julia Müller‐Hülstede
Dr. Henrike Schmies
Dr. Dana Schonvogel
Peter Wagner
Prof. Dr. K. Andreas Friedrich
Effect of Polytetrafluorethylene Content in Fe‐N‐C‐Based Catalyst Layers of Gas Diffusion Electrodes for HT‐PEM Fuel Cell Applications
ChemElectroChem
Electrocatalyst
Fe-N-C
Gas Diffusion Electrode
High-Temperature PEMFC
PTFE
title Effect of Polytetrafluorethylene Content in Fe‐N‐C‐Based Catalyst Layers of Gas Diffusion Electrodes for HT‐PEM Fuel Cell Applications
title_full Effect of Polytetrafluorethylene Content in Fe‐N‐C‐Based Catalyst Layers of Gas Diffusion Electrodes for HT‐PEM Fuel Cell Applications
title_fullStr Effect of Polytetrafluorethylene Content in Fe‐N‐C‐Based Catalyst Layers of Gas Diffusion Electrodes for HT‐PEM Fuel Cell Applications
title_full_unstemmed Effect of Polytetrafluorethylene Content in Fe‐N‐C‐Based Catalyst Layers of Gas Diffusion Electrodes for HT‐PEM Fuel Cell Applications
title_short Effect of Polytetrafluorethylene Content in Fe‐N‐C‐Based Catalyst Layers of Gas Diffusion Electrodes for HT‐PEM Fuel Cell Applications
title_sort effect of polytetrafluorethylene content in fe n c based catalyst layers of gas diffusion electrodes for ht pem fuel cell applications
topic Electrocatalyst
Fe-N-C
Gas Diffusion Electrode
High-Temperature PEMFC
PTFE
url https://doi.org/10.1002/celc.202300583
work_keys_str_mv AT tanjazierdt effectofpolytetrafluorethylenecontentinfencbasedcatalystlayersofgasdiffusionelectrodesforhtpemfuelcellapplications
AT drjuliamullerhulstede effectofpolytetrafluorethylenecontentinfencbasedcatalystlayersofgasdiffusionelectrodesforhtpemfuelcellapplications
AT drhenrikeschmies effectofpolytetrafluorethylenecontentinfencbasedcatalystlayersofgasdiffusionelectrodesforhtpemfuelcellapplications
AT drdanaschonvogel effectofpolytetrafluorethylenecontentinfencbasedcatalystlayersofgasdiffusionelectrodesforhtpemfuelcellapplications
AT peterwagner effectofpolytetrafluorethylenecontentinfencbasedcatalystlayersofgasdiffusionelectrodesforhtpemfuelcellapplications
AT profdrkandreasfriedrich effectofpolytetrafluorethylenecontentinfencbasedcatalystlayersofgasdiffusionelectrodesforhtpemfuelcellapplications