Superior Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) Performance Using Short-Side-Chain Perfluorosulfonic Acid (PFSA) Membrane and Ionomer
Optimization of the ionomer materials in catalyst layers (CLs) which sometimes is overlooked has been equally crucial as selection of the membranes in membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for achieving a superior performance in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Four combinations of the MEAs...
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Materials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/1/78 |
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| author | Nana Zhao Zhiqing Shi Francois Girard |
| author_facet | Nana Zhao Zhiqing Shi Francois Girard |
| author_sort | Nana Zhao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Optimization of the ionomer materials in catalyst layers (CLs) which sometimes is overlooked has been equally crucial as selection of the membranes in membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for achieving a superior performance in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Four combinations of the MEAs composed of short-side-chain (SSC) and long-side-chain (LSC) perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) polymers as membrane and ionomer materials have been prepared and tested under various temperatures and humidity conditions, aiming to investigate the effects of different side chain polymer in membranes and CLs on fuel cell performance. It is discovered that SSC PFSA polymer used as membrane and ionomer in CL yields better fuel cell performance than LSC PFSA polymer, especially at high temperature and low RH conditions. The MEA with the SSC PFSA employed both as a membrane and as an ionomer in cathode CL demonstrates the best cell performance amongst the investigated MEAs. Furthermore, various electrochemical diagnoses have been applied to fundamentally understand the contributions of the different resistances to the overall cell performance. It is illustrated that the charge transfer resistance (R<sub>ct</sub>) made the greatest contribution to the overall cell resistance and then membrane resistance (R<sub>m</sub>), implying that the use of the advanced ionomer in CL could lead to more noticeable improvement in cell performance than only the substitution as the membrane. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:34:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3373097215a048e9a6ca5a46ce9476e1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1944 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:34:33Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Materials |
| spelling | doaj.art-3373097215a048e9a6ca5a46ce9476e12023-11-23T11:47:52ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442021-12-011517810.3390/ma15010078Superior Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) Performance Using Short-Side-Chain Perfluorosulfonic Acid (PFSA) Membrane and IonomerNana Zhao0Zhiqing Shi1Francois Girard2Energy, Mining & Environment Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, 4250 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1W5, CanadaEnergy, Mining & Environment Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, 4250 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1W5, CanadaEnergy, Mining & Environment Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, 4250 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1W5, CanadaOptimization of the ionomer materials in catalyst layers (CLs) which sometimes is overlooked has been equally crucial as selection of the membranes in membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for achieving a superior performance in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Four combinations of the MEAs composed of short-side-chain (SSC) and long-side-chain (LSC) perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) polymers as membrane and ionomer materials have been prepared and tested under various temperatures and humidity conditions, aiming to investigate the effects of different side chain polymer in membranes and CLs on fuel cell performance. It is discovered that SSC PFSA polymer used as membrane and ionomer in CL yields better fuel cell performance than LSC PFSA polymer, especially at high temperature and low RH conditions. The MEA with the SSC PFSA employed both as a membrane and as an ionomer in cathode CL demonstrates the best cell performance amongst the investigated MEAs. Furthermore, various electrochemical diagnoses have been applied to fundamentally understand the contributions of the different resistances to the overall cell performance. It is illustrated that the charge transfer resistance (R<sub>ct</sub>) made the greatest contribution to the overall cell resistance and then membrane resistance (R<sub>m</sub>), implying that the use of the advanced ionomer in CL could lead to more noticeable improvement in cell performance than only the substitution as the membrane.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/1/78ionomerlong side chainmembraneperfluorosulfonic acidPEM fuel cellshort side chain |
| spellingShingle | Nana Zhao Zhiqing Shi Francois Girard Superior Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) Performance Using Short-Side-Chain Perfluorosulfonic Acid (PFSA) Membrane and Ionomer Materials ionomer long side chain membrane perfluorosulfonic acid PEM fuel cell short side chain |
| title | Superior Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) Performance Using Short-Side-Chain Perfluorosulfonic Acid (PFSA) Membrane and Ionomer |
| title_full | Superior Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) Performance Using Short-Side-Chain Perfluorosulfonic Acid (PFSA) Membrane and Ionomer |
| title_fullStr | Superior Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) Performance Using Short-Side-Chain Perfluorosulfonic Acid (PFSA) Membrane and Ionomer |
| title_full_unstemmed | Superior Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) Performance Using Short-Side-Chain Perfluorosulfonic Acid (PFSA) Membrane and Ionomer |
| title_short | Superior Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) Performance Using Short-Side-Chain Perfluorosulfonic Acid (PFSA) Membrane and Ionomer |
| title_sort | superior proton exchange membrane fuel cell pemfc performance using short side chain perfluorosulfonic acid pfsa membrane and ionomer |
| topic | ionomer long side chain membrane perfluorosulfonic acid PEM fuel cell short side chain |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/1/78 |
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