The gas diffusion electrode setup as a testing platform for evaluating fuel cell catalysts: A comparative RDE‐GDE study
Abstract Gas diffusion electrode (GDE) setups have been recently introduced as a new experimental approach to test the performance of fuel cell catalysts under high mass transport conditions, while maintaining the simplicity of rotating disk electrode (RDE) setups. In contrast to experimental RDE pr...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley-VCH
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Electrochemical Science Advances |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/elsa.202100190 |
| _version_ | 1811165324034179072 |
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| author | Sven Nösberger Jia Du Jonathan Quinson Etienne Berner Alessandro Zana Gustav K.H. Wiberg Matthias Arenz |
| author_facet | Sven Nösberger Jia Du Jonathan Quinson Etienne Berner Alessandro Zana Gustav K.H. Wiberg Matthias Arenz |
| author_sort | Sven Nösberger |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Gas diffusion electrode (GDE) setups have been recently introduced as a new experimental approach to test the performance of fuel cell catalysts under high mass transport conditions, while maintaining the simplicity of rotating disk electrode (RDE) setups. In contrast to experimental RDE protocols, for investigations using GDE setups only few systematic studies have been performed. In literature, different GDE arrangements were demonstrated, for example, with and without an incorporated proton exchange membrane. Herein, we chose a membrane‐GDE approach for a comparative RDE–GDE study, where we investigate several commercial standard Pt/C fuel cell catalysts with respect to the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Our results demonstrate both the challenges and the strengths of the new fuel cell catalyst testing platform. We highlight the analysis and the optimization of catalyst film parameters. That is, instead of focusing on the intrinsic catalyst ORR activities that are typically derived in RDE investigations, we focus on parameters, such as the catalyst ink recipe, which can be optimized for an individual catalyst in a much simpler manner as compared to the elaborative membrane electrode assembly (MEA) testing. In particular, it is demonstrated that ∼50% improvement in ORR performance can be reached for a particular Pt/C catalyst by changing the Nafion content in the catalyst layer. The study therefore stresses the feasibility of the GDE approach used as an intermediate “testing step” between RDE and MEA tests when developing new fuel cell catalysts. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T15:36:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3864764b1c02409bb1aab56a3dbe77c7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2698-5977 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T15:36:26Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | Wiley-VCH |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Electrochemical Science Advances |
| spelling | doaj.art-3864764b1c02409bb1aab56a3dbe77c72023-02-13T05:14:13ZengWiley-VCHElectrochemical Science Advances2698-59772023-02-0131n/an/a10.1002/elsa.202100190The gas diffusion electrode setup as a testing platform for evaluating fuel cell catalysts: A comparative RDE‐GDE studySven Nösberger0Jia Du1Jonathan Quinson2Etienne Berner3Alessandro Zana4Gustav K.H. Wiberg5Matthias Arenz6Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences University of Bern Bern SwitzerlandDepartment of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences University of Bern Bern SwitzerlandDepartment of Chemistry University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Ø DenmarkDepartment of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences University of Bern Bern SwitzerlandDepartment of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences University of Bern Bern SwitzerlandDepartment of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences University of Bern Bern SwitzerlandDepartment of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences University of Bern Bern SwitzerlandAbstract Gas diffusion electrode (GDE) setups have been recently introduced as a new experimental approach to test the performance of fuel cell catalysts under high mass transport conditions, while maintaining the simplicity of rotating disk electrode (RDE) setups. In contrast to experimental RDE protocols, for investigations using GDE setups only few systematic studies have been performed. In literature, different GDE arrangements were demonstrated, for example, with and without an incorporated proton exchange membrane. Herein, we chose a membrane‐GDE approach for a comparative RDE–GDE study, where we investigate several commercial standard Pt/C fuel cell catalysts with respect to the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Our results demonstrate both the challenges and the strengths of the new fuel cell catalyst testing platform. We highlight the analysis and the optimization of catalyst film parameters. That is, instead of focusing on the intrinsic catalyst ORR activities that are typically derived in RDE investigations, we focus on parameters, such as the catalyst ink recipe, which can be optimized for an individual catalyst in a much simpler manner as compared to the elaborative membrane electrode assembly (MEA) testing. In particular, it is demonstrated that ∼50% improvement in ORR performance can be reached for a particular Pt/C catalyst by changing the Nafion content in the catalyst layer. The study therefore stresses the feasibility of the GDE approach used as an intermediate “testing step” between RDE and MEA tests when developing new fuel cell catalysts.https://doi.org/10.1002/elsa.202100190gas diffusion electrode (GDE) setupsfuel cell catalystsoxygen reduction reaction (ORR)rotating disk electrode (RDE) setups |
| spellingShingle | Sven Nösberger Jia Du Jonathan Quinson Etienne Berner Alessandro Zana Gustav K.H. Wiberg Matthias Arenz The gas diffusion electrode setup as a testing platform for evaluating fuel cell catalysts: A comparative RDE‐GDE study Electrochemical Science Advances gas diffusion electrode (GDE) setups fuel cell catalysts oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) rotating disk electrode (RDE) setups |
| title | The gas diffusion electrode setup as a testing platform for evaluating fuel cell catalysts: A comparative RDE‐GDE study |
| title_full | The gas diffusion electrode setup as a testing platform for evaluating fuel cell catalysts: A comparative RDE‐GDE study |
| title_fullStr | The gas diffusion electrode setup as a testing platform for evaluating fuel cell catalysts: A comparative RDE‐GDE study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The gas diffusion electrode setup as a testing platform for evaluating fuel cell catalysts: A comparative RDE‐GDE study |
| title_short | The gas diffusion electrode setup as a testing platform for evaluating fuel cell catalysts: A comparative RDE‐GDE study |
| title_sort | gas diffusion electrode setup as a testing platform for evaluating fuel cell catalysts a comparative rde gde study |
| topic | gas diffusion electrode (GDE) setups fuel cell catalysts oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) rotating disk electrode (RDE) setups |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/elsa.202100190 |
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