Title
Stabilized Composite Membranes And Membrane Electrode Assemblies For Elevated Temperature/Low Relative Humidity Pefc Operation
Keywords
Fuel cell; Heteropolyacid; High temperature; Membrane electrode assembly; Nafion®; Stabilization
Abstract
An approach is presented to combine existing heteropolyacid (HPA) additive and membrane electrode assembly (MEA) stabilization techniques to yield a stabilized MEA for operation at 120 °C and 35% relative humidity (RH). MEAs were prepared using Nafion®/phosphotungstic acid composite membranes with a phosphotungstic acid (PTA) particle size of 30-50 nm. The PTA additive was stabilized by substituting its protons with cesium counter ions. The Nafion® in the membrane and electrodes was simultaneously converted to the Cs+ form by an ion-exchange process. The melt processability of the Nafion® in the Cs+ form permitted the MEA to be heat treated at 200 °C and 30 atm, promoting the development of a durable membrane/electrode interface. The prior stabilization of the PTA permitted MEA re-protonation with minimal additive loss. FTIR spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were employed to present evidence of ion-exchange and protonation. In situ electrochemical impedance measurements (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements confirmed ion-exchange and protonation within the active portion of the stabilized MEA. The stabilization process did not affect the integrity of the MEA, with the hydrogen crossover currents through the membrane remaining unchanged at 2 mA cm-2. The MEA was evaluated at 120 °C and 35% relative humidity in an operating fuel cell environment and yielded respectable performance under these conditions. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Date
12-1-2005
Publication Title
Journal of Power Sources
Volume
152
Issue
1-2
Number of Pages
182-188
Document Type
Article
Personal Identifier
scopus
DOI Link
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2005.03.135
Copyright Status
Unknown
Socpus ID
28044457684 (Scopus)
Source API URL
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/28044457684
STARS Citation
Ramani, Vijay; Kunz, H. R.; and Fenton, J. M., "Stabilized Composite Membranes And Membrane Electrode Assemblies For Elevated Temperature/Low Relative Humidity Pefc Operation" (2005). Scopus Export 2000s. 3496.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/scopus2000/3496