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

Title: 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 ^[1]; Wang, Junhua ^[1]; Zhao, Yun ^[1]; Setzler, Brian P. ^[1]; Rojas-Carbonell, Santiago ^[1];

^[1]

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.

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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, Vol. 166, Issue 7; ISSN 0013-4651

Publisher:: The Electrochemical SocietyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 38 works

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