Non-platinum cathode catalyst layer composition for single Membrane Electrode Assembly Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

✍ Scribed by Tim S. Olson; Kate Chapman; Plamen Atanassov

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2008
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 487 KB
• Volume: 183
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0378-7753
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2008.05.016

✦ Synopsis

The performance of nano-structured templated non-platinum-based cathode electrocatalysts for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) was evaluated for different catalyst layer compositions. The effect of non-platinum catalyst, Nafion, and 35 wt% Teflon modified Vulcan XC-72 Carbon Blacks (XC-35) loadings were measured under H 2 /air and H 2 /O 2 conditions. Transport hindrances that occur in the catalyst layers are evaluated with E vs. i analysis. It is shown that transport limitations in the cathode catalyst layer can limit the performance of the cell at relatively low current densities if the catalyst layer composition is not optimized. Further, a procedure is outlined here to aid in the implementation of non-traditional catalyst materials into fuel cell systems (i.e. templated electrocatalyst as compared to the standard supported material).