Elucidating the impact of the ionomer equivalent weight on a platinum group metal‐free PEMFC cathode via oxygen limiting current
Abstract Leveraging the interactions between ionomer and catalyst can increase the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. The impacts of the equivalent weight (EW) of perfluorosulfonic acid–based ionomers on the platinum group metal‐free electrode structure and fuel cell performance hav...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-02-01
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| Series: | SusMat |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/sus2.106 |
| _version_ | 1797902058255286272 |
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| author | Hao Wang Luigi Osmieri Haoran Yu Michael J. Zachman Jae Hyung Park Nancy N. Kariuki Firat C. Cetinbas Sunilkumar Khandavalli Scott Mauger Deborah J. Myers David A. Cullen Kenneth C. Neyerlin |
| author_facet | Hao Wang Luigi Osmieri Haoran Yu Michael J. Zachman Jae Hyung Park Nancy N. Kariuki Firat C. Cetinbas Sunilkumar Khandavalli Scott Mauger Deborah J. Myers David A. Cullen Kenneth C. Neyerlin |
| author_sort | Hao Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Leveraging the interactions between ionomer and catalyst can increase the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. The impacts of the equivalent weight (EW) of perfluorosulfonic acid–based ionomers on the platinum group metal‐free electrode structure and fuel cell performance have not been fully explored. Four membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) were prepared by using a commercial Fe–N–C catalyst, two perfluorosulfonic acid ionomers with different EWs, that is, Aquivion 720 (A720) and Nafion 1100 (N1100), and two ionomer‐to‐catalyst (I/C) ratios. The four MEAs were characterized to understand the impact of the ionomer EW and content on the capacitance, proton conductivity, and mass transport on the cathode. The mass transport resistance was measured for the first time using a new oxygen reduction reaction limiting current method enabling to couple the effects of oxygen diffusion with liquid water generation. Low EW ionomer combined with a moderate I/C results in improved performance due to its enhanced proton conductivity. However, when used at high I/C, it can cause severe water flooding at high current density due to the enhanced liquid water uptake, especially at high relative humidity, resulting in lower catalyst utilization and higher mass transport resistance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T09:11:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-20250a314f8b40d6b4e8f633620d9bee |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2692-4552 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T09:11:47Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | SusMat |
| spelling | doaj.art-20250a314f8b40d6b4e8f633620d9bee2023-02-21T05:02:24ZengWileySusMat2692-45522023-02-0131729010.1002/sus2.106Elucidating the impact of the ionomer equivalent weight on a platinum group metal‐free PEMFC cathode via oxygen limiting currentHao Wang0Luigi Osmieri1Haoran Yu2Michael J. Zachman3Jae Hyung Park4Nancy N. Kariuki5Firat C. Cetinbas6Sunilkumar Khandavalli7Scott Mauger8Deborah J. Myers9David A. Cullen10Kenneth C. Neyerlin11Chemistry and Nanoscience Center National Renewable Energy Laboratory Golden Colorado USAChemistry and Nanoscience Center National Renewable Energy Laboratory Golden Colorado USACenter for Nanophase Materials Sciences Oak Ridge National Laboratory Oak Ridge Tennessee USACenter for Nanophase Materials Sciences Oak Ridge National Laboratory Oak Ridge Tennessee USAChemical Sciences and Engineering Division Argonne National Laboratory Lemont Illinois USAChemical Sciences and Engineering Division Argonne National Laboratory Lemont Illinois USANuclear Science and Engineering Division Argonne National Laboratory Lemont Illinois USAChemistry and Nanoscience Center National Renewable Energy Laboratory Golden Colorado USAChemistry and Nanoscience Center National Renewable Energy Laboratory Golden Colorado USAChemical Sciences and Engineering Division Argonne National Laboratory Lemont Illinois USACenter for Nanophase Materials Sciences Oak Ridge National Laboratory Oak Ridge Tennessee USAChemistry and Nanoscience Center National Renewable Energy Laboratory Golden Colorado USAAbstract Leveraging the interactions between ionomer and catalyst can increase the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. The impacts of the equivalent weight (EW) of perfluorosulfonic acid–based ionomers on the platinum group metal‐free electrode structure and fuel cell performance have not been fully explored. Four membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) were prepared by using a commercial Fe–N–C catalyst, two perfluorosulfonic acid ionomers with different EWs, that is, Aquivion 720 (A720) and Nafion 1100 (N1100), and two ionomer‐to‐catalyst (I/C) ratios. The four MEAs were characterized to understand the impact of the ionomer EW and content on the capacitance, proton conductivity, and mass transport on the cathode. The mass transport resistance was measured for the first time using a new oxygen reduction reaction limiting current method enabling to couple the effects of oxygen diffusion with liquid water generation. Low EW ionomer combined with a moderate I/C results in improved performance due to its enhanced proton conductivity. However, when used at high I/C, it can cause severe water flooding at high current density due to the enhanced liquid water uptake, especially at high relative humidity, resulting in lower catalyst utilization and higher mass transport resistance.https://doi.org/10.1002/sus2.106ionomer equivalent weightlimiting currentmass transportoxygen reduction reactionPGM‐free catalystproton exchange membrane fuel cell |
| spellingShingle | Hao Wang Luigi Osmieri Haoran Yu Michael J. Zachman Jae Hyung Park Nancy N. Kariuki Firat C. Cetinbas Sunilkumar Khandavalli Scott Mauger Deborah J. Myers David A. Cullen Kenneth C. Neyerlin Elucidating the impact of the ionomer equivalent weight on a platinum group metal‐free PEMFC cathode via oxygen limiting current SusMat ionomer equivalent weight limiting current mass transport oxygen reduction reaction PGM‐free catalyst proton exchange membrane fuel cell |
| title | Elucidating the impact of the ionomer equivalent weight on a platinum group metal‐free PEMFC cathode via oxygen limiting current |
| title_full | Elucidating the impact of the ionomer equivalent weight on a platinum group metal‐free PEMFC cathode via oxygen limiting current |
| title_fullStr | Elucidating the impact of the ionomer equivalent weight on a platinum group metal‐free PEMFC cathode via oxygen limiting current |
| title_full_unstemmed | Elucidating the impact of the ionomer equivalent weight on a platinum group metal‐free PEMFC cathode via oxygen limiting current |
| title_short | Elucidating the impact of the ionomer equivalent weight on a platinum group metal‐free PEMFC cathode via oxygen limiting current |
| title_sort | elucidating the impact of the ionomer equivalent weight on a platinum group metal free pemfc cathode via oxygen limiting current |
| topic | ionomer equivalent weight limiting current mass transport oxygen reduction reaction PGM‐free catalyst proton exchange membrane fuel cell |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/sus2.106 |
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