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Enhanced PEMFC Performance and Durability Enabled by a Highly Oxygen-Permeable Ionomer Binder.
Yao Tong1, Haolin Tang1,2,3, Haining Zhang1,2,3
1State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, Nr. 122 Luoshi Rd., Wuhan 430070, China.
A new highly oxygen-permeable ionomer (HOPI) enhances proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) performance and durability by preventing platinum particle growth and improving catalyst layer structure. This breakthrough offers a promising solution for long-term, high-performance fuel cell operation.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) suffer from performance degradation due to platinum (Pt) particle growth, agglomeration, and ionomer issues.
- Reduced electrochemical active surface area (ECSA) and catalytic site accessibility limit PEMFC durability and efficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and evaluate a highly oxygen-permeable ionomer (HOPI) as a solution to PEMFC degradation.
- To assess HOPI's impact on electrochemical performance, durability, and catalyst layer microstructure compared to conventional ionomers like Nafion.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of a novel highly oxygen-permeable ionomer (HOPI).
- Evaluation in rotating disk electrode (RDE) and membrane electrode assembly (MEA) systems.
- Accelerated durability testing (50 h) and characterization of catalyst layer microstructure and Pt particle behavior.
Main Results:
- HOPI-based MEAs achieved a peak power density of 110 mW cm-2, exceeding Nafion-based MEAs.
- HOPI facilitated a more porous cathode catalyst layer (CCL) microstructure, enhancing oxygen permeability.
- HOPI-MEAs demonstrated superior durability, with HOPI-based CCLs maintaining thickness while Nafion-based CCLs thinned unevenly.
- HOPI effectively suppressed Pt aggregation and particle growth, preserving ECSA and active site accessibility.
Conclusions:
- HOPI significantly enhances PEMFC electrochemical performance and durability.
- The improved performance is attributed to HOPI's high oxygen permeability and the resulting porous CCL microstructure.
- HOPI effectively mitigates degradation mechanisms like Pt particle growth, making it a promising binder for advanced PEMFCs.
