Work

Performance Comparison of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells with Nafion and Aquivion Perfluorosulfonic Acids with Different Equivalent Weights as the Electrode Binders

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: A perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) ionomer, used as the proton conductor in the catalyst layer, influences significantly the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell catalyst-coated membrane (CCM). In this paper, SSC-CCM is prepared by the SSC-PFSA (Aquivion, EW 720) ionomer, and the comparative sample (LSC-CCM) is based on the LSC-PFSA ionomer (Nafion, EW 1100). Compared with LSC-CCM, SSC-CCM shows higher porosity, larger electrochemical surface area (ECSA), and smaller high-frequency resistance. Polarization curves of SSC-CCM tested by the short stack show better performance than those of LSC-CCM, especially under the lower relative humidity operations. Moreover, the SSC-CCM outputs higher voltage and is more stable in the dynamic process with temperature continuously increasing under lower relative humidity operation. Such excellent performance of SSC-CCM is confirmed from the higher proton conductivity of SSC-PFSA under low relative humidity. These results indicate that the SSC-PFSA ionomer could be employed for the CCM catalyst layer under the operation conditions of low relative humidity and dynamic running for automotive applications.

Source: ACS Omega

DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c02110

Authors: Ting Li, Jiabin Shen, Guangying Chen, Shaoyun Guo, Guangyou Xie

Institutions: Sichuan University, Dongfang Electric Corporation (China), State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering

Language: English

Topic: Fuel Cells and Related Materials

Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $750