Abstract
Perfluorinated sulfonic acid (PFSA) polymers such as Nafion® are widely used for both electrolyte membranes and ionomers in the catalytic layer of membrane-electrode assemblies (MEAs) because of their high protonic conductivity, σH, as well as chemical and thermal stability. The use of PFSA polymers with shorter side chains and lower equivalent weight (EW) than Nafion®, such as Aquivion® PFSA ionomers, is a valid approach to improve fuel cell performance and stability under drastic operative conditions such as those related to automotive applications. In this context, it is necessary to optimize the composition of the catalytic ink, according to the different ionomer characteristics. In this work, the influence of the ionomer amount in the catalytic layer was studied, considering the dispersing agent used to prepare the electrode (water or ethanol). Electrochemical studies were carried out in a single cell in the presence of H2-air, at intermediate temperatures (80–95 °C), low pressure, and reduced humidity ((50% RH). %). The best fuel cell performance was found for 26 wt.% Aquivion® at the electrodes using ethanol for the ink preparation, associated to a maximum catalyst utilization.
Highlights
Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have been developed as an efficient and eco-friendly energy-conversion device for distributed power generation, transportation, and stationary uses [1,2]
Perfluorinated sulfonic acid (PFSA) polymers such as Nafion® are widely used for both electrolyte membranes and ionomers in the catalytic layer of membrane-electrode assemblies (MEAs) because of their high protonic conductivity, σH, as well as chemical and thermal stability
The use of PFSA polymers with shorter side chains and lower equivalent weight (EW) than Nafion®, such as Aquivion® PFSA ionomers, is a valid approach to improve fuel cell performance and stability under drastic operative conditions such as those related to automotive applications
Summary
Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have been developed as an efficient and eco-friendly energy-conversion device for distributed power generation, transportation, and stationary uses [1,2]. Aquivion®, developed by Solvay Specialty Polymers, is a short-side-chain (SSC) perfluorosulfonic polymer and presents a higher crystallinity, higher glass-transition temperature (Tg) and lower swelling than Nafion® together with a high proton conductivity, making this SSC polymer more suitable to work in a PEMFC at higher cell temperature and lower relative humidity levels (RH, %) [22,23,24,25,26]. Garsany et al investigated the effects of the fuel cell component preparation method with SSC ionomers by comparing Aquivion® with Nafion®, and finding superior fuel cell power density upon appropriate catalyst-loading optimization, with durability issues still a remaining challenge [32,33]. The obtained MEAs were electrochemically characterized in a 25 cm single cell in the presence of H2-air, at intermediate temperatures (80–95 ◦C), low pressure, and reduced humidity (50% RH), to evaluate how the catalytic ink composition influenced the electrochemical performance
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