Barron O., Su H., Linkov V., Pollet B.G., Pasupathi S.
HySA Systems Competence Centre, South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, South Africa
Barron, O., HySA Systems Competence Centre, South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, South Africa; Su, H., HySA Systems Competence Centre, South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, South Africa; Linkov, V., HySA Systems Competence Centre, South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, South Africa; Pollet, B.G., HySA Systems Competence Centre, South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, South Africa; Pasupathi, S., HySA Systems Competence Centre, South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, South Africa
Zirconium hydrogen phosphate (ZHP) together with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) polymer binder is incorporated into the catalyst layers (CLs) of ABPBI (poly(2,5-benzimidazole))-based high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (HT-PEMFCs) to improve its performance and durability. The influence of ZHP content (normalised with respect to dry PTFE) on the CL properties are structurally characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mercury intrusion porosimetry. Electrochemical analyses of the resultant membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) are performed by recording polarisation curves and impedance spectra at 160 °C, ambient pressure and humidity. The result show that a 30 wt.% ZHP/PTFE content in the CL is optimum for improving fuel cell performance, the resultant MEA delivers a peak power of 592 mW cm-2 at a cell voltage of 380 mV. Electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) indicate that 30% ZHP in the CL can increase the proton conductivity compared to the pristine PTFE-gas diffusion electrode (GDE). A short term stability test (∼500 h) on the 30 wt.% ZHP/PTFE-GDE shows a remarkable high durability with a degradation rate as low as ∼19 μV h-1 at 0.2 A cm-2, while 195 μV h-1 was obtained for the pristine GDE. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Catalysts; Degradation; Diffusion in gases; Durability; Electrochemical electrodes; Electrodes; Fuel cells; Hydrogen; Membranes; Polyelectrolytes; Polymers; Polytetrafluoroethylenes; Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC); Scanning electron microscopy; Solid solutions; Zirconium; Catalyst layers; Gas diffusion electrodes; High temperature polymer electrolyte membranes; Membrane electrode assemblies; Poly(2 5-benzimidazole); Zirconium hydrogen phosphate; Solid electrolytes