High-Performance Hydroxide Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells through Optimization of Relative Humidity, Backpressure and Catalyst Selection

Wang, Teng; Shi, Lin; Wang, Junhua; Zhao, Yun; Setzler, Brian P.; Rojas-Carbonell, Santiago; Yan, Yushan

doi:10.1149/2.0361907jes

High-Performance Hydroxide Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells through Optimization of Relative Humidity, Backpressure and Catalyst Selection

Journal Article · Tue May 14 00:00:00 EDT 2019 · Journal of the Electrochemical Society

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/2.0361907jes· OSTI ID:1545484

Wang, Teng ^[1]; Shi, Lin ^[2]; Wang, Junhua ^[2]; Zhao, Yun ^[2]; Setzler, Brian P. ^[2]; Rojas-Carbonell, Santiago ^[2]; ^[2]

Univ. of Delaware, Newark, DE (United States); University of Delaware
Univ. of Delaware, Newark, DE (United States)

Hydroxide exchange membrane fuel cells (HEMFC) are an enticing power source for automobiles due to their low cost. Here we focus on improving the beginning-of-life performance of HEMFCs to a higher level with poly(aryl piperidinium) (PAP) membranes and ionomers. We reveal that lower RH and backpressure in anode than cathode can eliminate anode flooding and cathode dryout so that a balanced water management can be achieved. We also find that PtRu/C is a better anode catalyst than Pt/Ketjen Black due to the presence of Ru and Pt/Vulcan XC-72 is a better cathode catalyst than Pt/Ketjen Black due to its better mass transport properties. Once the preferred operating conditions and materials incorporated into the same cell, our HEMFCs achieved a peak power density of 1.89 W cm^–2 in H₂/O₂ and 1.31 W cm^–2 in H₂/air.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Univ. of Delaware, Newark, DE (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E)

Grant/Contract Number:: AR0000771

OSTI ID:: 1545484

Journal Information:: Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Journal Name: Journal of the Electrochemical Society Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 166; ISSN 0013-4651

Publisher:: The Electrochemical SocietyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Quantifying and elucidating the effect of CO ₂ on the thermodynamics, kinetics and charge transport of AEMFCs Zheng, Yiwei; Omasta, Travis J.; Peng, Xiong Energy & Environmental Science, Vol. 12, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1039/c9ee01334b	journal	January 2019

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25 ENERGY STORAGE
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