Control of Cluster Structures in Catalyst Inks by a Dispersion Medium

The cluster structure in the catalyst ink of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell determines its performance. The interaction among solvent, ionomer, and catalyst in ink determines the cluster structure and affects the microstructure and surface morphology of the catalyst layer, which is of great significance to improve the conductivity of the catalyst layer to protons, electrons, and water. First, the dissolved state of the main chain and the side chain of the ionomer in solvent was characterized. The results of relative viscosity, ζ-potential, effective proton fraction, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) showed that the alcohol aqueous solution promoted the stretching electrolysis of the main chain and the side chain of the ionomer more than the pure aqueous solvent, making the ionomer clusters smaller. The rheological test of the ink shows that the pure water solvent ink has the largest cluster and the strongest network structure. Under the test conditions, the clusters in the ink can be reconstructed quickly after breakage through viscous shearing. The addition of alcohols will make the clusters in the ink smaller and the network structure brittle. After the clusters and the network structure are damaged, they will slowly recombine and the viscosity in the ink will gradually recover. Ethanol will minimize the clusters in the ink, and the network structure in the ink is the weakest. The effect of the network strength on the cluster structure is weakened by reducing the solid content in the ink. The amplitude scanning test shows that the network structure in the slurry is almost eliminated after reducing the solid content, the storage modulus of ink with water, 50 wt % isopropyl alcohol (IPA), 50 wt % n-propanol (NPA), and 50 wt % ethanol (ET) decreases in turn, as well as the liquid viscosity behavior increases and the cluster particle size in the ink decreases. In conclusion, more dispersed ionomers and alcohol molecules with smaller molecular structures are more conducive to the dispersion of clusters in the ink.