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Title: Fuel Cell Performance Implications of Membrane Electrode Assembly Fabrication with Platinum-Nickel Nanowire Catalysts

Journal Article · · Journal of the Electrochemical Society
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/2.1061803jes· OSTI ID:1425998

Platinum-nickel nanowire (PtNiNW) catalysts have shown exceptionally high oxygen reduction mass activity in rotating disk electrode measurements. However, the ability to successfully incorporate PtNiNWs into high performance membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) has been challenging due to their size, shape, density, dispersion characteristics, and corrosion-susceptible nickel core. We have investigated the impact of specific processing steps and electrode composition on observed fuel cell performance and electrochemical properties in order to optimize performance. We have found that nickel ion contamination is a major concern for PtNiNWs that can be addressed through ion exchange in fabricated/tested MEAs or by acid leaching of catalyst materials prior to MEA incorporation, with the latter being the more successful method. Additionally, decreased ionomer incorporation has led to the highest performance demonstrating 238 mA/mgPt (0.9 V IR-free) for PtNiNWs (pre-leached to 80 wt% Pt) with 9 wt% ionomer incorporation.

Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Sustainable Transportation Office. Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308
OSTI ID:
1425998
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1430822
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA-5900-70607; /jes/165/3/F238.atom
Journal Information:
Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Journal Name: Journal of the Electrochemical Society Vol. 165 Journal Issue: 3; ISSN 0013-4651
Publisher:
The Electrochemical SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 36 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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  • Mukerjee, Sanjeev; Srinivasan, Supramaniam; Soriaga, Manuel P.
  • Journal of The Electrochemical Society, Vol. 142, Issue 5, p. 1409-1422 https://doi.org/10.1149/1.2048590
journal January 1995
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