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Non-planar platinum group metal-free fuel cell cathodes for enhanced oxygen transport and water rejection

Journal Article · · Journal of Power Sources
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [3];  [2]
  1. Carnegie Mellon Univ., Pittsburgh, PA (United States). Dept. of Mechanical Engineering; Carnegie Mellon Univ., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
  2. Carnegie Mellon Univ., Pittsburgh, PA (United States). Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
  3. Univ. at Buffalo, NY (United States). Dept. of Chemical and Biological Engineering
+ Show Author Affiliations

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) with cathodes using platinum group metal-free (PGM-free) catalysts could significantly reduce costs, but the lower volumetric oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity requires thick electrodes that suffer from liquid water flooding and increased oxygen transport resistance. To address these challenges, we developed a 3D gas diffusion electrode (GDE) architecture to enhance liquid water removal through the diffusion media and reduce cathode saturation. The cathode features a uniform catalyst layer adjacent to the membrane for high ORR activity and then pillars of the hydrophilic catalyst layer that pass through the microporous layer (MPL), providing a low capillary pressure barrier pathway to the carbon fiber paper layer and channel. The non-planar cathode also increases the interfacial area between the catalyst layer and hydrophobic MPL for a greater fraction of the cathode with high O2 concentration. Our studies included parametric experimental study of the pillar density to identify the optimum pitch between pillars. Our measurements show significant improvements in the mass transport region of the polarization curve with 3D structured electrodes leading to an 8% increase in maximum current density, 19% increase in maximum power density, and 16% increase in current density at 0.67 V with air.

Research Organization:
Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
Grant/Contract Number:
EE0008076
OSTI ID:
1848669
Journal Information:
Journal of Power Sources, Journal Name: Journal of Power Sources Journal Issue: C Vol. 506; ISSN 0378-7753
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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25 ENERGY STORAGE
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
Chemistry
Electrochemistry
Electrode architecture
Energy & Fuels
Experiments
Fuel cell
Materials Science
Non-planar
PGM-Free catalysts
Water management