Electrospun Nanofiber Electrodes for High and Low Humidity PEMFC Operation

Waldrop, Krysta; Slack, John J.; Gumeci, Cenk; Parrondo, Javier; Dale, Nilesh; Reeves, Kimberly Shawn; Cullen, David A.; More, Karren L.; Pintauro, Peter N.

doi:10.1149/1945-7111/acb8e2

Electrospun Nanofiber Electrodes for High and Low Humidity PEMFC Operation

Journal Article · Wed Feb 15 04:00:00 EST 2023 · Journal of the Electrochemical Society

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/1945-7111/acb8e2· OSTI ID:1924817

Waldrop, Krysta; Slack, John J.; Gumeci, Cenk; Parrondo, Javier; Dale, Nilesh; Reeves, Kimberly Shawn; ; More, Karren L.;

MEAs with nanofiber mat electrodes containing Pt/C catalyst and Nafion binder were fabricated and evaluated. The electrodes were prepared by electrospinning a solution of catalyst powder, salt-form Nafion (with Na ⁺ , Li ⁺ , or Cs ⁺ as the sulfonic acid counterion), and a carrier polymer of either polyethylene oxide or poly(acrylic acid). The carrier polymer was extracted prior to MEA testing by a hot water soaking step. The resulting fibers were 15%–17% porous, with a core–shell-like morphology (a coating of primarily Nafion on the fiber surface). MEAs with anode/cathode catalyst loadings of 0.1 mg _Pt cm ⁻² each and a Nafion 211 membrane produced high power at both high and low relative humidity (RH) conditions in H ₂ /air fuel cell tests, e.g., a maximum power density of 919 mW cm ⁻² at 100% RH and 832 mW cm ⁻² at 40% RH for a test at 80 °C and 200 kPa _abs . The presence of nm-size pores within the fibers trapped water via capillary condensation during low RH feed gas testing, thus maintaining a high proton conductivity of the Nafion binder in the anode and cathode while minimizing/eliminating ionic isolation of catalyst particles in low water content, poorly conductive binder.

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Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: NONE; EE0007653

OSTI ID:: 1924817

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1923396
OSTI ID: 1986210

Journal Information:: Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Journal Name: Journal of the Electrochemical Society Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 170; ISSN 0013-4651

Publisher:: The Electrochemical SocietyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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