Seeberger D, McLaughlin D, Hauenstein P, Thiele S (2020)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2020
Book Volume: 4
Pages Range: 2508-2518
Journal Issue: 5
DOI: 10.1039/d0se00288g
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.
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://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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