TY - JOUR
T1 - Impact of Catalyst Ink Dispersing Solvent on PEM Fuel Cell Performance and Durability
AU - Lei, Chao
AU - Yang, Fan
AU - Macauley, Natalia
AU - Spinetta, Magali
AU - Purdy, Gerie
AU - Jankovic, Jasna
AU - Cullen, David A.
AU - More, Karren L.
AU - Kim, Yu Seung
AU - Xu, Hui
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Author(s). Published on behalf of The Electrochemical Society by IOP Publishing Limited.
PY - 2021/4
Y1 - 2021/4
N2 - The dispersing solvent used for fuel cell catalyst ink preparation plays a vital role in establishing the resulting morphology of the electrode layers, which in turn will impact the performance of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. In this study, we report the impact of various ionomer dispersion solvents on PEM fuel cell performance and durability; two aqueous (1-propanol/water and 2-propanol/water) and several non-aqueous dispersing solvents (ethylene glycol and 1,2-butanediol) are compared. The cathode catalyst layer (CCL) fabricated using inks prepared with 1-propanol/water (3:1, w/w) exhibited the best initial performance followed by the CCL prepared using ethylene glycol. The CCLs made from non-aqueous ethylene glycol and 1,2-butanediol exhibited the best durability upon accelerated stress testing. Scanning transmission electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy indicated that, after the stress test, the distribution of both the Nafion ionomer and Pt nanoparticles within the CCLs prepared with non-aqueous ionomer dispersions underwent less change than those prepared with aqueous dispersions, which is responsible for the improved durability.
AB - The dispersing solvent used for fuel cell catalyst ink preparation plays a vital role in establishing the resulting morphology of the electrode layers, which in turn will impact the performance of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. In this study, we report the impact of various ionomer dispersion solvents on PEM fuel cell performance and durability; two aqueous (1-propanol/water and 2-propanol/water) and several non-aqueous dispersing solvents (ethylene glycol and 1,2-butanediol) are compared. The cathode catalyst layer (CCL) fabricated using inks prepared with 1-propanol/water (3:1, w/w) exhibited the best initial performance followed by the CCL prepared using ethylene glycol. The CCLs made from non-aqueous ethylene glycol and 1,2-butanediol exhibited the best durability upon accelerated stress testing. Scanning transmission electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy indicated that, after the stress test, the distribution of both the Nafion ionomer and Pt nanoparticles within the CCLs prepared with non-aqueous ionomer dispersions underwent less change than those prepared with aqueous dispersions, which is responsible for the improved durability.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85105765309&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1149/1945-7111/abf2b0
DO - 10.1149/1945-7111/abf2b0
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85105765309
SN - 0013-4651
VL - 168
JO - Journal of the Electrochemical Society
JF - Journal of the Electrochemical Society
IS - 4
M1 - 044517
ER -