The contamination mechanism and behavior of amide bond containing organic contaminant on PEMFC
- Univ. of South Carolina, Columbia, SC (United States). Dept. of Chemical Engineering
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States). Chemical and Materials Science Center
- Univ. of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL (United States). Dept. of Chemical and Biological Engineering
In this paper, a study is presented of the effects of an organic contaminant containing an amide bond (-CONH-), ε-caprolactam, on polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The ε-caprolactam has been detected in leachates from polyphthalamide materials that are being considered for use as balance-of-plant structural materials for PEMFCs. Contamination effects from ε-caprolactam in Nafion membranes are shown to be controlled by temperature. A possible explanation of the temperature effect is the endothermic ring-opening reaction of the amide bond (-NHCO-) of the cyclic ε-caprolactam. UV-vis and ATR-IR spectroscopy studies confirmed the presence of open ring structure of ε-caprolactam in membranes. The ECSA and kinetic current for the ORR of the Pt/C catalyst were also investigated and were observed to decrease upon contamination by the ε-caprolactam. By comparison of the CVs of ammonia and acetic acid, we confirmed the adsorption of carboxylic acid (-COOH) or carboxylate anion (-COO-) onto the surface of the Pt. In conclusion, a comparison of in situ voltage losses at 80°C and 50°C also revealed temperature effects, especially in the membrane, as a result of the dramatic increase in the HFR.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States); Univ. of South Carolina, Columbia, SC (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Sustainable Transportation Office. Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technologies Office
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC36-08GO28308; ZGB-0-99180-1
- OSTI ID:
- 1220615
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/JA-5900-62537
- Journal Information:
- Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Vol. 162, Issue 4; Related Information: Journal of the Electrochemical Society; ISSN 0013-4651
- Publisher:
- The Electrochemical SocietyCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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