• New & Renewable Energy
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• v.3 no.1 s.9
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• pp.60-67
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• 2007

Catalyst coated membrane [CCM] type and catalyst coated substrate [CCS] type of membrane electrode assembly [MEA] were manufactured and evaluated their performance. Degradation test were conducted to find the difference of long term stability in two types of MEA and the factor for performance degradation problem occurred. Performance degradation test of single cell in two different types of MEA were carried out when current density was $200mA/cm^{2}$. The degradation test had proceeded for 230 hours and performance degradation was checked by I-V curve and impedance measurement at regular intervals. Also, MEA before/after operation and changes of catalyst layer were characterized by SEM, TEM, and XRD. Maximum power density of CCM type was higher than that of CCS type. Meanwhile, an increase of particle size of catalyst and an increase of impedance resistance after long term operation were observed. In the case of using CCM type MEA, the performance was deteriorated 38% of initial performance. In the case of using CCS type MEA, the performance was deteriorated 43% of initial performance. In consideration of difference of initial performance, performance of CCM type is higher than that of CCS type but both types had similar problems during degradation test.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.296-301
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• 2017

Recently, there are many efforts focused on development of more economical non-fluorinated membranes for PEMFCs (Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells). In this study, sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) (sPEEK) membrane reinforced with poly imide was made to enhance of membrane durability. In order to test durability of single (un-reinforced) membrane and reinforced membrane MEA (Membrane and Electrode Assembly), degradation accelerated stress test was used. Before and after degradation, I-V polarization curve, hydrogen crossover current, electrochemical surface area, membrane resistance and charge transfer resistance were measured. As a result of experiments, hydrogen crossover current of reinforced MEA was lower than that of single MEA, therefor durability of reinforced MEA was higher than that of single MEA. There was not especially short phenomena in reinforced MEA after degradation accelerated stress test.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.157-161
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• 2007

This study is to investigate the biological degradation and the characteristics of MEA, a pH regulator to be put in the cooling water circulation system for power plants, loading to elevate concentrations of COD and N when eluted into the water environment. MEA, $NH_4^+$ and CODcr were monitored in flask cultures and in a batch aerator. MEA was found to be biologically degradable, producing substantial amount of ammonia (max. 78.1%) in a form of $NH_4^+$ and other carboneous intermediates. The degradation reaction rates were similar one another over all MEA concentrations tested as the activated sludge (microbial consortium) was acclimated to MEA with the gradual and stepwise increase in MEA input into the batch aerator. Also, MLVSS kept increasing with increasing MEA input. The COD-based degradation reaction order was determined to be 1.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.290-297
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• 2016

The absorbent loss due to degradation in $CO_2$ capture process using aqueous alkanol amine solution has adverse effect on the economics of overall process. The degradation causes absorbent loss, equipment corrosion, foaming, adhesive material producing and viscosity increase in operation. In this study, the degradation characteristics of $CO_2$ capture process using MEA (monoehtanolamine) under various conditions such as $O_2$ partial pressure, $CO_2$ loading and absorbent temperature. The effects of iron, which generated from the equipment corrosion, on absorbent degradation were studied using $Fe_2SO_4$ containing MEA solution. The produced gases were analyzed by FT-IR(Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer) and the specifically measured $NH_3$ concentration was used as a degradation degree of aqueous MEA solution. The experiments showed that the higher $CO_2$ loadings (${\alpha}$), $O_2$ fraction ($y_{O2}$) and reaction temperature enhanced the more degradation of aqueous MEA solution. Comparing other operation parameters, the reaction temperature most affected on the degradation. Therefore, it could be concluded that the above parameters affects on degradation should be considered for the selections of $CO_2$ absorbent and operating conditions.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.11a
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• pp.86.2-86.2
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• 2010

In order to improve polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) durability, the durability of membrane electrode assemblies (MEA), in which the electrochemical reactions actually occur, is one of the vital issues. Many articles have dealt with catalyst layer degradation of the durability-related factors on MEAs in relation to loss of catalyst surface area caused by agglomeration, dissolution, migration, formation of metal complexes and oxides, and/or instability of the carbon support. Degradation of catalyst layer during long-term operation includes cracking or delamination of the layer which result either from change in the catalyst microstructure or loss of electronic or ionic contact with the active surface, can result in apparent activity loss in the catalyst layer. Membrane degradation of the durability-related factors on MEAs can be caused by mechanical or thermal stress resulting in formation of pinholes and tears and/or by chemical attack of hydrogen peroxide radicals formed during the electrochemical reactions. All of these effects, the mechanical damage of membrane and degradation of catalyst layers are more facilitated by uneven stress or improper MEA fabrication process. In order to improve the PEMFC durability, therefore, it is most important to minimize the uneven stress or improper MEA fabrication process in the course of the fabrication of MEA. We analyzed the effects of the MEA fabrication condition on the PEMFC durability with MEA produced using CCM (catalyst coated membrane) method. This paper also investigated the effects of MEA fabrication condition on the PEMFC durability by adding additional treatment process, hot pressing and pressing, on the MEA produced using CCM method.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.148-154
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• 2009

With respect to the durability of large scale ($150cm^2$) membrane electrode assembly (MEA) of direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), degradation phenomena at cathode is monitored and analyzed according to the position on the cathode surface. After constant current mode operation of large scale MEA for 500 hr, the MEA is divided into three parts along the cathode channel; (close to) inlet, middle, and (close to) outlet. The performance of each MEA is tested and it is revealed that the MEA from the cathode outlet of large MEA shows the worst performance. This is due to the catalyst degradation and GDL delamination caused by flooding at cathode outlet of large MEA during the 500 hr operation. Particularly on the catalyst degradation, the loss of electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) of catalyst gets worse along the cathode channel from inlet to outlet, of which the reason is believed to be loss of catalysts by dissolution and migration rather than their agglomeration. The extent of loss in the performance and catalyst degradation has strong relation to the cathode flooding and it is required to develop proper water management techniques and separator channel design to control the flooding.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.192-192
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• 2007

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.189-195
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• 2023

As a PEMFC (Polymer Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell) cathode catalyst, Pt-Co/C has recently been widely used because of its improved durability. In a fuel cell, electrodes and electrolytes have a close influence on each other in terms of performance and durability. The effect on the electrochemical durability of the electrolyte membrane when Pt-Co/C was replaced in the Pt/C electrode catalyst was studied. The durability of Pt-Co/C MEA (Membrane Electrode Assembly) was higher than that of Pt/C MEA in the electrochemical accelerated degradation process of PEMFC membrane. As a result of analyzing the FER (Fluorine Emission Rate) and hydrogen permeability, it was shown that the degradation rate of the membrane of Pt-Co/C MEA was lower than that of Pt/C MEA. In the OCV (Open Circuit Voltage) holding process, the rate of decrease of the active area of the Pt-Co/C electrode was lower than that of the Pt/C electrode, and the amount of Pt deposited on the membrane was smaller in Pt-Co/C MEA than in Pt/C MEA. Pt inside the polymer membrane deteriorates the membrane by generating radicals, so the degradation rate of the membrane of Pt/C MEA with a high Pt deposition rate was higher than Pt-Co/C MEA. When the Pt-Co/C catalyst was used, the electrode durability was improved, and the amount of Pt deposited on the membrane was also reduced, thereby improving the electrochemical durability of the membrane.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.494-497
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• 2006

For commercialization of polymer electrolytemembrane fuel cell (PEMFC), durability of membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) has to be improved. Especially, long-term stability of MEA is one of the most important issues for frequent shut-down and start-up processes of PEMFC. The degradation of MEA could be attributed to chemical attack of hydrogen peroxide radicals that are formed at high cell voltages without any special treatment to remove residual hydrogen from anode gas channel after shut-down of the fuel cell. In this study, we investigated the long-term stability of MEA under different on/off operation conditions. Residential hydrogen gas was removed from the anode flow channel by purging air or nitrogen. Also, a dummy resistance was applied to the fuel cell to exhaust residential hydrogen at the anode. In these cases, MEA showed much more stable durability. Electrochemical characteristics of the fuel cell were measured byrepeating the on/off cycles with the hydrogen removal processes. Also, degradation of MEA components was examined by SEM, TEM and XRD analyses.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.778-782
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• 2012

Until a recent day, degradation of PEMFC MEA (membrane and electrode assembly) has been studied, separated with membrane degradation and electrode degradation, respectively. But membrane and electrode were degraded coincidentally at real PEMFC operation condition. Therefore in this work, AST (Accelerated Stress Test) of MEA degradation was done at the condition that membrane and electrode were degraded simultaneously. There was interaction between membrane degradation and electrode degradation. Membrane degradation reduced the decrease range of catalyst active area by electrode degradation. Electrode degradation reduces increase range of the hydrogen crossover current and FER (Fluoride Emission Rate) by membrane degradation.