Title: Editors’ Choice—Examining Performance and Durability of Anion Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells with Novel Spirocyclic Anion Exchange Membranes

Abstract

A series of spirocyclic copolymer membranes with varying ion exchange capacities (IECs) were investigated to probe the impact of polymer properties on in situ fuel cell performance and stability. In-situ electrochemical tests and post-mortem electron microscopy analysis of cross-sectioned membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) have been combined with voltage loss breakdown analysis to evaluate the performance and degradation of different MEAs, and to probe the catalyst morphology and electrode structure at different stages of operation. Voltage loss breakdown results show that membrane degradation and kinetic losses played only a minor role in observed performance degradation and that performance losses were primarily related to increasing mass transport losses. From microscopy studies, carbon corrosion and Pt nanoparticle growth were identified at both the cathode and anode although more pronounced on the cathode resulting in significant structural changes. The membrane with the lowest IEC (1.3 mmolg ⁻¹ ) demonstrated the lowest peak power density ~ 1.16 W cm ⁻² , however, it showed the most stable performance (constant 0.6 A cm ⁻² hold) with ~ 5% degradation over 540 h. Isolation of performance losses and microscopic analysis of electrodes for anion exchange membrane fuel cells has not been reported previously, and these results helpmore » identify critical performance degradation concerns.« less

Authors:

Yang-Neyerlin, Ami C. ;

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Yang-Neyerlin, Ami C."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-3408-0825"

Medina, Samantha ;

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Medina, Samantha"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-9980-0133"

Meek, Kelly M. ;

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Meek, Kelly M."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-6325-8776"

Strasser, Derek J. ;

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Strasser, Derek J."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-6844-4570"

He, Cheng ;

• Search DOE PAGES for author "He, Cheng"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-6236-4761"

Knauss, Daniel M. ;

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Knauss, Daniel M."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-9445-5505"

Mustain, William E. ;

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Mustain, William E."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-7804-6410"

Pylypenko, Svitlana ;

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Pylypenko, Svitlana"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-7982-734X"

Pivovar, Bryan S.

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Pivovar, Bryan S."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-5181-5363"

Publication Date:

Tue Apr 27 00:00:00 EDT 2021

Research Org.:

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE; USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office

OSTI Identifier:

1835421

Alternate Identifier(s):

OSTI ID: 1785095

Report Number(s):

NREL/JA-5900-79515
Journal ID: ISSN 0013-4651

Grant/Contract Number:  

AC36-08GO28308

Resource Type:

Published Article

Journal Name:

Journal of the Electrochemical Society

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Name: Journal of the Electrochemical Society Journal Volume: 168 Journal Issue: 4; Journal ID: ISSN 0013-4651

Publisher:

The Electrochemical Society

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

25 ENERGY STORAGE; anion exchange membrane fuel cells; novel spirocyclic anion exchange membranes; spirocyclic co-polymer membranes; electrochemical energy conversion; membrane electrode assemblies