Characterization of a Sulfonated Poly(Ionic Liquid) Block Copolymer as an Ionomer for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells using Rotating Disk Electrode

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramchandra Gawas ◽  
Rui Sun ◽  
Yawei Li ◽  
Kenneth C. Neyerlin ◽  
Yossef Elabd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thin Films ◽  
Ionic Liquid ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Pt Catalyst ◽  
Membrane Electrode ◽  
Poly Ionic Liquid ◽  
Exchange Membrane ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Sulfonated Poly

Abstract Ionic liquid (IL) additives to both traditional and advanced oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysts have yielded remarkable improvements in catalyst performance and durability. However, incorporating ILs or IL-modified catalysts into the electrodes of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) membrane electrode assembly (MEA) has proven to be challenging. Sulfonated poly(ionic liquid) block copolymers (S-PILBCP) present an opportunity to incorporate IL functionality directly into the ionomer, orthogonal to protonic conductivity. Here, we use a rotating disc electrode (RDE) to characterize the interface between a S-PILBCP and Pt catalyst in comparison to Nafion. Catalyst thin films prepared with S-PILBCP show an 80% improvement in the ORR activity over those containing Nafion. Thin films of S-PILBCP also show a significantly reduced degree of poisoning sulfonate adsorption on a Pt(111) surface in comparison to Nafion. These half-cell results provide useful insights that help to highlight the source of the impact of the S-PILBCP on PEMFC MEA performance.

Polymerized imidazolium ionic liquids crosslinking sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) for high-temperature proton exchange membrane

RSC Advances ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (113) ◽  
pp. 111729-111738 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quantong Che ◽  
Jie Yue
Keyword(s):  
Ionic Liquid ◽  
High Temperature ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Imidazolium Ionic Liquids ◽  
Ether Ether Ketone ◽  
Poly Ether Ether Ketone ◽  
Ether Ketone ◽  
Exchange Membrane ◽  
Sulfonated Poly

An ionic liquid (IL) monomer of (acryloyloxy)propanylimidazolium chloride with unsaturated carbon–carbon double bonds was synthesized.

scholarly journals Synthesis of Sulfonated Poly(Arylene Ether Sulfone)s Containing Aliphatic Moieties for Effective Membrane Electrode Assembly Fabrication by Low-Temperature Decal Transfer Methods

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 1713
Author(s):  
Jie-un Choi ◽  
Min-kyu Kyeong ◽  
Min-sung Kim ◽  
Sang-Soo Lee ◽  
Bora Seo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Membrane Electrode Assembly ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Membrane Electrode ◽  
Scanning Calorimetry ◽  
Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Arylene Ether ◽  
Transfer Method ◽  
Exchange Membrane ◽  
Sulfonated Poly

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the aliphatic moiety in the sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) (SPAES) backbone. A new monomer (4,4’-dihydroxy-1,6-diphenoxyhexane) was synthesized and polymerized with other monomers to obtain partially alkylated SPAESs. According to differential scanning calorimetry analysis, the glass transition temperature (Tg) of these polymers ranged from 85 to 90 °C, which is 100 °C lower than that of the fully aromatic SPAES. Due to the low Tg values obtained for the partially alkylated SPAESs, it was possible to prepare a hydrocarbon electrolyte membrane-based membrane electrode assembly (MEA) with Nafion® binder in the electrode through the use of a decal transfer method, which is the most commercially suitable system to obtain an MEA of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). A single cell prepared using this partially alkylated SPAES as an electrolyte membrane exhibited a peak power density of 539 mW cm−2.

scholarly journals Effect of Stratification of Cathode Catalyst Layers on Durability of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 2975
Author(s):  
Zikhona Nondudule ◽  
Jessica Chamier ◽  
Mahabubur Chowdhury
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Electrochemical Impedance ◽  
Catalyst Layer ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Membrane Electrode ◽  
Potential Cycling ◽  
Catalyst Layers ◽  
Exchange Membrane

To decrease the cost of fuel cell manufacturing, the amount of platinum (Pt) in the catalyst layer needs to be reduced. In this study, ionomer gradient membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) were designed to reduce Pt loading without sacrificing performance and lifetime. A two-layer stratification of the cathode was achieved with varying ratios of 28 wt. % ionomer in the inner layer, on the membrane, and 24 wt. % on the outer layer, coated onto the inner layer. To study the MEA performance, the electrochemical surface area (ECSA), polarization curves, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) responses were evaluated under 20, 60, and 100% relative humidity (RH). The stratified MEA Pt loading was reduced by 12% while maintaining commercial equivalent performance. The optimal two-layer design was achieved when the Pt loading ratio between the layers was 1:6 (inner:outer layer). This MEA showed the highest ECSA and performance at 0.65 V with reduced mass transport losses. The integrity of stratified MEAs with lower Pt loading was evaluated with potential cycling and proved more durable than the monolayer MEA equivalent. The higher ionomer loading adjacent to the membrane and the bi-layer interface of the stratified catalyst layer (CL) increased moisture in the cathode CL, decreasing the degradation rate. Using ionomer stratification to decrease the Pt loading in an MEA yielded a better performance compared to the monolayer MEA design. This study, therefore, contributes to the development of more durable, cost-effective MEAs for low-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells.

scholarly journals Degradation Investigation of Electrocatalyst in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell at a High Energy Efficiency

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (13) ◽  
pp. 3932
Author(s):  
Jie Song ◽  
Qing Ye ◽  
Kun Wang ◽  
Zhiyuan Guo ◽  
Meiling Dou
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Single Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Cell Voltage ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Pt Catalyst ◽  
Operation Conditions ◽  
High Efficient ◽  
Exchange Membrane

The development of high efficient stacks is critical for the wide spread application of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) in transportation and stationary power plant. Currently, the favorable operation conditions of PEMFCs are with single cell voltage between 0.65 and 0.7 V, corresponding to energy efficiency lower than 57%. For the long term, PEMFCs need to be operated at higher voltage to increase the energy efficiency and thus promote the fuel economy for transportation and stationary applications. Herein, PEMFC single cell was investigated to demonstrate its capability to working with voltage and energy efficiency higher than 0.8 V and 65%, respectively. It was demonstrated that the PEMFC encountered a significant performance degradation after the 64 h operation. The cell voltage declined by more than 13% at the current density of 1000 mA cm−2, due to the electrode de-activation. The high operation potential of the cathode leads to the corrosion of carbon support and then causes the detachment of Pt nanoparticles, resulting in significant Pt agglomeration. The catalytic surface area of cathode Pt is thus reduced for oxygen reduction and the cell performance decreased. Therefore, electrochemically stable Pt catalyst is highly desirable for efficient PEMFCs operated under cell voltage higher than 0.8 V.

scholarly journals On the Effect of Anion Exchange Ionomer Binders in Bipolar Electrode Membrane Interface Water Electrolysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Britta Mayerhöfer ◽  
Konrad Ehelebe ◽  
Florian Dominik Speck ◽  
Markus Bierling ◽  
Johannes Bender ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Water Electrolysis ◽  
Membrane Electrode Assembly ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Membrane Electrode ◽  
Bipolar Electrode ◽  
Electrode Interface ◽  
Exchange Membrane ◽  
Electrode Membrane ◽  
Pem Water Electrolyzer

Bipolar membrane|electrode interface water electrolyzers (BPEMWE) were found to outperform a proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolyzer reference in a similar membrane electrode assembly (MEA) design based on individual porous...

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