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Development of gas diffusion electrodes for low relative humidity proton exchange membrane fuel cells
- Source :
- International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 36:2213-2220
- Publication Year :
- 2011
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 2011.
-
Abstract
- A series of polyaniline nanofibers (PANFs) were synthesized and incorporated into gas diffusion electrodes (GDE) of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) to improve their performances at low relative humidity (RH) conditions. Three different placements to incorporate the PANFs in the anodes include (1) placing a PANFs layer between catalyst layer (CL) and membrane, (2) coating the CL with PANFs and catalyst mixed slurry, and (3) placing a PANFs layer between the CL and gas diffusion layer (GDL). Fuel cell performance data indicates that the last method is superior to the others and is adopted as incorporation method thereafter. Extensive studies on single cell performances have been conducted to compare the membrane electrode assemblies with and without the incorporation of PANFs in both anode and cathode. Polarization curves show the incorporation of H 2 SO 4 -doped PANFs is highly effective in improving the hydrophilic characteristic of the electrodes and thus can promote the PEMFC performance at low RH conditions. For example, with a lowering of reactant RH from 100 to 70%, the electrode with H 2 SO 4 -doped PANFs layer exhibits an increase in power density from 0.57 to 0.7 W cm −2 . On the other hand, a traditional carbon-supported platinum electrode exhibits a decline of performance from 0.73 to 0.55 W cm −2 .
- Subjects :
- Polyaniline nanofibers
Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Membrane electrode assembly
Analytical chemistry
Energy Engineering and Power Technology
Proton exchange membrane fuel cell
Condensed Matter Physics
Cathode
law.invention
Anode
chemistry.chemical_compound
Fuel Technology
chemistry
Chemical engineering
law
Polyaniline
Electrode
Polarization (electrochemistry)
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 03603199
- Volume :
- 36
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi...........05a49ae8b34d0deb94a487e7791ed984