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Title: Exploring substrate/ionomer interaction under oxidizing and reducing environments

Abstract

Local gas transport limitation attributed to the ionomer thin-film in the catalyst layer is a major deterrent to widespread commercialization of polymer-electrolyte fuel cells. So far functionality and limitations of these thin-films have been assumed identical in the anode and cathode. In this study, Nafion ionomer thin-films on platinum(Pt) support were exposed to H2 and air as model schemes, mimicking anode and cathode catalyst layers. Findings indicate decreased swelling, increased densification of ionomer matrix, and increased humidity-induced aging rates in reducing environment, compared to oxidizing and inert environments. Observed phenomenon could be related to underlying Pt-gas interaction dictating Pt-ionomer behavior. Presented results could have significant implications about the disparate behavior of ionomer thin-film in anode and cathode catalyst layers.

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [1];  [3]; ORCiD logo [3]
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  1. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States). Dept. of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Energy Technologies Area
  2. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States). Dept. of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
  3. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Energy Technologies Area
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Sustainable Transportation Office. Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technologies Office; National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
OSTI Identifier:
1440958
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1702991
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC02-05CH11231; DGE-1106400
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Electrochemistry Communications
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 87; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 1388-2481
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; Hydrogen; Fuel cell; Ionomer Thin-film; Confinement; Platinum Interface

Citation Formats

Tesfaye, Meron, MacDonald, Andrew N., Dudenas, Peter J., Kusoglu, Ahmet, and Weber, Adam Z. Exploring substrate/ionomer interaction under oxidizing and reducing environments. United States: N. p., 2018. Web. doi:10.1016/j.elecom.2018.01.004.
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Tesfaye, Meron, MacDonald, Andrew N., Dudenas, Peter J., Kusoglu, Ahmet, & Weber, Adam Z. Exploring substrate/ionomer interaction under oxidizing and reducing environments. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.elecom.2018.01.004
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Tesfaye, Meron, MacDonald, Andrew N., Dudenas, Peter J., Kusoglu, Ahmet, and Weber, Adam Z. Fri . "Exploring substrate/ionomer interaction under oxidizing and reducing environments". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.elecom.2018.01.004. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1440958.
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@article{osti_1440958,
title = {Exploring substrate/ionomer interaction under oxidizing and reducing environments},
author = {Tesfaye, Meron and MacDonald, Andrew N. and Dudenas, Peter J. and Kusoglu, Ahmet and Weber, Adam Z.},
abstractNote = {Local gas transport limitation attributed to the ionomer thin-film in the catalyst layer is a major deterrent to widespread commercialization of polymer-electrolyte fuel cells. So far functionality and limitations of these thin-films have been assumed identical in the anode and cathode. In this study, Nafion ionomer thin-films on platinum(Pt) support were exposed to H2 and air as model schemes, mimicking anode and cathode catalyst layers. Findings indicate decreased swelling, increased densification of ionomer matrix, and increased humidity-induced aging rates in reducing environment, compared to oxidizing and inert environments. Observed phenomenon could be related to underlying Pt-gas interaction dictating Pt-ionomer behavior. Presented results could have significant implications about the disparate behavior of ionomer thin-film in anode and cathode catalyst layers.},
doi = {10.1016/j.elecom.2018.01.004},
journal = {Electrochemistry Communications},
number = C,
volume = 87,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Feb 09 00:00:00 EST 2018},
month = {Fri Feb 09 00:00:00 EST 2018}
}
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Journal Article:
Free Publicly Available Full Text
Publisher's Version of Record
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.elecom.2018.01.004
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Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 21 works
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Figures / Tables:

Figure 1 Figure 1: (a) Humidity protocol applied during in-situ tracking of spin-cast Nafion thin-films (~50 nm) (b) % Change in thickness on Pt and Si/SiO2 substrate under H2 and Air environments as a function of relative-humidity.
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Works referenced in this record:

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    Works referencing / citing this record:

    Substrate‐Dependent Molecular and Nanostructural Orientation of Nafion Thin Films
    journal, July 2019

    • Kushner, Douglas I.; Kusoglu, Ahmet; Podraza, Nikolas J.
    • Advanced Functional Materials, Vol. 29, Issue 37
    • DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201902699

    Dual Cross‐linked Vinyl Vitrimer with Efficient Self‐Catalysis Achieving Triple‐Shape‐Memory Properties
    journal, August 2019

    • Niu, Xiling; Wang, Fenfen; Kui, Xing
    • Macromolecular Rapid Communications, Vol. 40, Issue 19
    • DOI: 10.1002/marc.201900313
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      Figures / Tables found in this record:

      Figure 1 (p. 8)figure
      Figure 2 (p. 10)figure
      Figure 3 (p. 12)figure
      Figure 4 (p. 14)figure
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