Polybenzimidazole (PBI) functionalized nanographene as highly stable catalyst support for polymer Electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs)

Xin, Le; Yang, Fan; Qiu, Yang; Uzunoglu, Aytekin; Rockward, Tommy; Borup, Rodney L.; Stanciu, Lia A.; Li, Wenzhen; Xie, Jian

doi:10.1149/2.0921610jes

Title: Polybenzimidazole (PBI) functionalized nanographene as highly stable catalyst support for polymer Electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs)

Journal Article · Thu Aug 25 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · Journal of the Electrochemical Society

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/2.0921610jes· OSTI ID:1344363

Xin, Le ^[1]; Yang, Fan ^[2]; Qiu, Yang ^[3]; Uzunoglu, Aytekin ^[4]; Rockward, Tommy ^[5]; Borup, Rodney L. ^[5]; Stanciu, Lia A. ^[4]; Li, Wenzhen ^[3]; Xie, Jian ^[1]

Indiana Univ.-Purdue Univ. Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN (United States)
Indiana Univ.-Purdue Univ. Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN (United States); Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN (United States)
Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)
Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN (United States)
Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Nanoscale graphenes were used as cathode catalyst supports in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Surface-initiated polymerization that covalently bonds polybenzimidazole (PBI) polymer on the surface of graphene supports enables the uniform distribution of the Pt nanoparticles, as well as allows the sealing of the unterminated carbon bonds usually present on the edge of graphene from the chemical reduction of graphene oxide. The nanographene effectively shortens the length of channels and pores for O₂ diffusion/water dissipation and significantly increases the primary pore volume. Further addition of p-phenyl sulfonic functional graphitic carbon particles as spacers, increases the specific volume of the secondary pores and greatly improves O₂ mass transport within the catalyst layers. The developed composite cathode catalyst of Pt/PBI-nanographene (50 wt%) + SO₃H-graphitic carbon black demonstrates a higher beginning of life (BOL) PEMFC performance as compared to both Pt/PBI-nanographene (50 wt%) and Pt/PBI-graphene (50 wt%) + SO₃H-graphitic carbon black (GCB). Accelerated stress tests show excellent support durability compared to that of traditional Pt/Vulcan XC72 catalysts, when subjected to 10,000 cycles from 1.0 V to 1.5 V. As a result, this study suggests the promise of using PBI-nanographene + SO₃H-GCB hybrid supports in fuel cells to achieve the 2020 DOE targets for transportation applications.

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Research Organization:: Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Sustainable Transportation Office. Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technologies Office

Grant/Contract Number:: AC52-06NA25396

OSTI ID:: 1344363

Report Number(s):: LA-UR-16-24680

Journal Information:: Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Vol. 163, Issue 10; ISSN 0013-4651

Publisher:: The Electrochemical SocietyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 16 works

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36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
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support durability
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Title: Polybenzimidazole (PBI) functionalized nanographene as highly stable catalyst support for polymer Electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs)

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