Enhanced water management in the cathode of an air-breathing PEMFC using a dual catalyst layer and optimizing the gas diffusion and microporous layers

Xiong, Zi’ang; Liao, Shijun; Dang, Dai; Tian, Xinlong; Hou, Sanying; Liu, Fangfang; Peng, Hongliang; Fu, Zhiyong

doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2015.01.091

Cited by 56 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…We found that the thickness of the CLs increased with the amount of added Pt/CNT; the maximum and minimum thicknesses were 16.54 and 10.83 m. Our previous study [25] indicated that the thickness of a cathode CL with an optimized cathode gas diffusion layer has little influence on the physical contact resistance, but the charge transfer resistance increases as the thickness of the cathode CL increases.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Construction of a high-performance air-breathing cathode using platinum catalyst supported by carbon black and carbon nanotubes

Xiong¹,

Liao²,

Hou³

et al. 2016

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

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It is well recognized that pore structure and the hydrophilicity/ hydrophobicity balance are key factors for the cathodes of air-breathing proton exchange membrane fuel cells (AB-PEMFCs). In this work, we attempted to adjust the pore structure and hydrophilicity of an air-breathing cathode by using two types of catalysts, Pt/C and Pt/CNT, to prepare the catalyst layer for the air-breathing cathode instead of using a single catalyst. An MEA with the dual-catalyst cathode exhibited significantly improved single-cell performance, which was affected by the ratio of Pt/C to Pt/CNT. Our optimized MEA, which had a ratio of 54:46 in the cathode catalyst layer, achieved a current density of up to 290 mA cm-2 at 0.6 V, which was 14 % higher than that of a MEA without Pt/CNT. The Pt/CNT in the catalyst layer played the key role in the overall performance of the AB-PEMFC. We propose that the CNT improved charge transfer and enabled better electrical conductivity than carbon black. In addition, the tubular structure of Pt/CNT made the catalyst layer more porous and permeable to gas. Furthermore, the addition of Pt/CNT may have changed the cathode's hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity balance, giving the cathode better water balance and consequently yielding better performance.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Construction of a high-performance air-breathing cathode using platinum catalyst supported by carbon black and carbon nanotubes

Xiong¹,

Liao²,

Hou³

et al. 2016

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

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“…Thereby, an increase of electrical conductivity was observed probably due to the loss of the electrically insulating PTFE [27] during the immersion of GDLs in solutions. Experiments related to GDL resistivity were carried out using mercury electrodes to obtain renewable, uniform and smooth interface between the GDL and the electrode.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modification of gas diffusion layers properties to improve water management

Martı́n

Biswas

Gazdzicki

et al. 2017

Mater Renew Sustain Energy

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In this paper we report an approach to improve water management of commercial GDLs by introducing hydrophobicity patterns. Specifically, line and grid patterns have been created in the MPL side by laser radiation. For an in-depth investigation of these modified GDLs the current density distribution was monitored during fuel cell operation. Additionally, the physical properties of these materials were investigated by a number of ex situ methods such as Fourier transform infrared microscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and water vapor sorption. Furthermore, a comparison of the physical properties of the patterned GDLs with chemically modified GDLs (treated in H 2 SO 4 and H 2 O 2 ) is provided. Our results show a clearly improved homogeneity of current density distribution of the patterned GDLs compared to untreated GDLs. This observation is likely due to a reduced local hydrophobicity which facilitates water diffusion along the flow field of the fuel cell. However, performance of the fuel cell was not affected by the MPL irradiation.

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“…The resulting mixtures were then under continuous stirring for 30 min. The catalyst inks were then dripped onto the gas diffusion layer [ 22 ], and the catalyst layer on the carbon paper was treated under a pressure (8 MPa) to obtain the air electrodes [ 21 ]. The catalyst loading in the air electrodes was 1 mg/cm 2 .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preparation of Nickel Nanoparticles by Direct Current Arc Discharge Method and Their Catalytic Application in Hybrid Na-Air Battery

Qiu

Liang

et al. 2018

Nanomaterials

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Nickel nanoparticles were prepared by the arc discharge method. Argon and argon/hydrogen mixtures were used as plasma gas; the evaporation of anode material chiefly resulted in the formation of different arc-anode attachments at different hydrogen concentrations. The concentration of hydrogen was fixed at 0, 30, and 50 vol% in argon arc, corresponding to diffuse, multiple, and constricted arc-anode attachments, respectively, which were observed by using a high-speed camera. The images of the cathode and anode jets were observed with a suitable band-pass filter. The relationship between the area change of the cathode/anode jet and the synchronous voltage/current waveform was studied. By investigating diverse arc-anode attachments, the effect of hydrogen concentration on the features of nickel nanoparticles were investigated, finding that 50 vol% H2 concentration has high productivity, fine crystallinity, and appropriate size distribution. The synthesized nickel nanoparticles were then used as catalysts in a hybrid sodium–air battery. Compared with commercial a silver nanoparticle catalyst and carbon black, nickel nanoparticles have better electrocatalytic performance. The promising electrocatalytic activity of nickel nanoparticles can be ascribed to their good crystallinity, effective activation sites, and Ni/NiO composite structures. Nickel nanoparticles prepared by the direct current (DC) arc discharge method have the potential to be applied as catalysts on a large scale.

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Enhanced water management in the cathode of an air-breathing PEMFC using a dual catalyst layer and optimizing the gas diffusion and microporous layers

Cited by 56 publications

References 36 publications

Construction of a high-performance air-breathing cathode using platinum catalyst supported by carbon black and carbon nanotubes

Construction of a high-performance air-breathing cathode using platinum catalyst supported by carbon black and carbon nanotubes

Modification of gas diffusion layers properties to improve water management

Preparation of Nickel Nanoparticles by Direct Current Arc Discharge Method and Their Catalytic Application in Hybrid Na-Air Battery

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