High-performance anode for solid acid fuel cells prepared by mixing carbon substances with anode catalysts

Abstract

Optimization of Pt-based electrode structure is a key to enhance power generation performance of fuel cells and to reduce the Pt loading. This paper presents a new methodology for anode fabrication for solid acid fuel cells (SAFCs) operating at ca. 200 °C. Our membrane electrode assembly for SAFCs consisted of a CsH2PO4/SiP2O7 composite electrolyte and Pt-based electrodes. To obtain the anode, a commercial Pt/C catalyst and carbon substance, such as carbon black and carbon nanofiber, were mixed. The composite anode with Pt loading = 0.5 mg cm−2 demonstrated superior current-voltage characteristics to a benchmark Pt/C anode with Pt loading = 1 mg cm−2. We consider that the mixing of Pt/C catalyst and carbon substrate facilitated H2 mass transfer and increased the number of active sites.