Impacts of catalyst nanolayers on water permeation and swelling of polymer electrolyte membranes

Journal Article · 10 December 2019 · Journal of Power Sources

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2019.227582 · OSTI ID:1580572

Yang, Gaoqiang ^[1]; Yu, Shule ^[1]; Mo, Jingke  ^[1]; Li, Yifan ^[1]; Kang, Zhenye  ^[2]; Bender, Guido ^[3]; Pivovar, Bryan S.  ^[3]; Green, Johney B.  ^[3]; Cullen, David A. ^[4]; Zhang, Feng-Yuan  ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)
2. Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States); National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
3. National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
4. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Polymer electrolyte membranes with catalyst layers are the most crucial components of proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer cells and fuel cells. Their water permeation and swelling behavior significantly impact the proton transport and performance in energy conversion devices. In this study, water permeations and swelling properties of Nafion membranes with different platinum (Pt) nanolayers under different conditions are investigated. Visualization results demonstrate the entire swelling process of Pt-coated Nafion membranes and reveal water transport in Nafion membranes and breakage of the Pt nanolayer. The water permeation of Nafion membranes with a 17 nm Pt nanolayer coating reduces from 40 to less than 20 umol min-1 cm^-2 at 80 degrees C and 70 kPa differential pressure. The water permeation of Nafion membranes with a 36 nm Pt coating is slightly lower than one with a 17 nm Pt coating due to higher transport resistance through the thicker Pt nanolayer and smaller cracks on the Pt nanolayer. Nevertheless, the water permeation of Nafion membranes with Pt nanolayers is still in a good range for proton transport applications, demonstrating the feasibility of Pt or other metal coating on Nafion membranes as catalysts or substrates in PEM-based energy devices.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States); Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Fuel Cell Technologies Program; USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Office of Sustainable Transportation and Fuels. Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308; AC05-00OR22725; EE0008426; FE0011585
• OSTI ID: 1580572
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1577935; OSTI ID: 1708842
• Report Number(s): NREL/JA-5900-75719; MainId:14080; UUID:315c5343-b725-ea11-9c2f-ac162d87dfe5; MainAdminID:2560
• Journal Information: Journal of Power Sources, Vol. 448; ISSN 0378-7753
• Publisher: ElsevierCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English