Bipolar-interface fuel cells - an underestimated membrane electrode assembly concept for PGM-free ORR catalysts

Seeberger D, McLaughlin D, Hauenstein P, Thiele S (2020)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2020

Journal

Sustainable Energy & Fuels Royal Society of Chemistry

Book Volume: 4

Pages Range: 2508-2518

Journal Issue: 5

DOI: 10.1039/d0se00288g

Abstract

We present the first combination of a bipolar interface fuel cell with a commercial Fe-N/C catalyst as an alkaline cathode and a PGM-based, acidic anode, both separated by a proton exchange membrane (PEM). This membrane electrode assembly (MEA) concept enables the employment of Fe-N/C catalysts in a less corrosive alkaline environment, while simultaneously keeping the profound advantages of the hydrogen oxidation reaction in acidic media with extremely low PGM-material requirement. We compare two different cases for the anion exchange polymer-proton exchange polymer (AEM|PEM) interface at the alkaline cathode and the acidic membrane. In one case the PEM is simply pressed against the alkaline electrode and in the other case a part of the PEM is deposited onto the alkaline electrode. We achieved power densities of about 38 mW cm−2and 210 mW cm−2respectively. This is corresponding to 2.1 W mgPt−1cm−2. Our results show, that the bipolar interface design is one of the most important factors for performance optimization in BPM fuel cells. In addition, we compared a conventional PEM fuel cell with identical Fe-N/C cathode loading to the bipolar deposition case. After a 15 hour test run the PEMFC cell showed a strongly increased overpotential at lower current densities, whereas the overpotential increase for the bipolar cell was only marginally in the same current density region. With this work we show a facile manufacturing approach that enables bipolar interface fuel cells with Fe-N/C catalysts, showing promising power densities at low total PGM-loadings.

Authors with CRIS profile

Dominik Thiel Professur für Electrocatalytic Interface Engineering (HIERN) Pascal Hauenstein Professur für Electrocatalytic Interface Engineering (HIERN) Simon Thiele Professur für Electrocatalytic Interface Engineering (HIERN)

Involved external institutions

Forschungszentrum Jülich / Research Centre Jülich (FZJ) DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Seeberger, D., McLaughlin, D., Hauenstein, P., & Thiele, S. (2020). Bipolar-interface fuel cells - an underestimated membrane electrode assembly concept for PGM-free ORR catalysts. Sustainable Energy & Fuels, 4(5), 2508-2518. https://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d0se00288g

MLA:

Seeberger, Dominik, et al. "Bipolar-interface fuel cells - an underestimated membrane electrode assembly concept for PGM-free ORR catalysts." Sustainable Energy & Fuels 4.5 (2020): 2508-2518.

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