• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2000

The polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system was developed. In order to enhance the performance of membrane electrode assembly (MEA), the transfer printing method of the electrocatalyst layer on membrane was developed. The $H_2/O_2$ single cell with an electrode area of $50cm^2$ was fabricated and tested using 20 wt.% Pt/C as an electrocatalyst and the commercial and hand-made MEA such as Nafion 115, Hanwha, Dow, Flemion T and Gore Select. The 100-cell PEMFC stack with an active electrode area of $300cm^2$ was designed and fabricated using 40 wt.% Pt/C and 30 wt.% Pt-Ru/C as a cathode and anode electrocatalysts, respectively. The performance of PEMFC system was obtained to be 7kW (250A at 28V) and 3.5kW (70A at 50V) at $80^{\circ}C$ by flowing $H_2/air$ and methanol reformed fuel gas/air, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.295-300
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• 2007

A new characterization method using a porous plug model was proposed to determine the degree of sulfonation (DS) of ionomer binder with respect to the membrane used in membrane-electrode assemblies (MEAs) and to analyze the fraction of proton pathways through ionomer-catalyst combined electrodes in MEAs for polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). Sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) was prepared to use a polymeric electrolyte and laboratory-made SPEEK solution (5wt.%, DMAc based) was added to catalyst slurry to form catalyst layers. In case of the SPEEK-based MEAs in this study, DS of ionomer binder for catalyst layers should be the same or higher than that of the SPEEK membrane used in the MEAs. The porous plug model suggested that most of protons were via the ionomer binder (${\sim}92.5%$) bridging the catalyst surface to the polymeric electrolyte, compared with the pathways through the alternative between the interstitial water on the surface of ionomer binder or catalyst and the ionomer binder (${\sim}7.3%$) and through only the interstitial water on the surface of ionomer or catalyst (${\sim}0.2%$) in the electrode of the MEA comprising of the sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) membrane and the 5wt.% SPEEK ionomer binder. As a result, it was believed that the majority of proton at both electrodeds moves through ionomer binder until reaching to electrolyte membrane. The porous plug model of the electrodes of MEAs reemphasized the importance of well-optimized structure of ionomer binder and catalyst for fuel cells.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.181-186
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• 2002

The displacement of carbon black to polypyrrole as a catalyst supporter in the fuel electrode of a direct methanol fuel cell was investigated. Polypyrrole was obtained as a black powder by the chemical polymerization of pyrrole with three different oxidants. The synthesized polypyrroles were pasted on carbon paper and transformed to the fuel electrodes with electrochemically deposited platinum. The prepared fuel electrode was assembled and mounted in a unit cell using a membrane and cathodic electrode film. In comparison with the carbon black fuel electrode, the performance of the unit cell was analyzed in relation to the state of the catalyst, the type of oxidant, and the morphology of the polypyrrole powder.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.254-261
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• 2002

The fabrication method for the main components of the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell stack such as electrodes, membrane-electrode assemblies, and bipolar plates was established for the effective electrode area of 240 ㎠. A counter-flow type 100-cell stack was fabricated by using the above components and then a maximum power of 7.44 kW for H$_2$/O$_2$ and 5.56 kW for H$_2$/air could be obtained at 70$\^{C}$ and 1 atm. It was seen that the distribution of the OCV for unit cells in the stack was uniform but the voltage deviation increased as the load increased due to the IR drop and the electrode polarization. The stack was applied to the power source of the fuel cell/battery hybrid electric golf car. It produced about 1 kW at a room temperature operation during the test run, which occupied about 43% of the total power required by the 2.3 kW motor.

• Journal of the Semiconductor & Display Technology
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.27-30
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• 2003

The effect of fabrication method of catalytic layer on electrode performance has been investigated. Brush, spray gun and screen printer were used as fabrication tool and catalytic layers were formed by several methods in screen printing. Direct screen printing on polymer membrane, screen printing on carbon paper, and their combined method were applied. In the electrode fabricated by the screen printing method, Pt loading of Pt/C catalysts could be cut down to 50%, compared with results by the brushing and spraying methods. The best result of electrode was obtained as 0.6 V, at 1 A/$\textrm{cm}^2$ when catalytic layer was formed by the combined way.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.407-420
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• 2016

The fuel cell technology as a green energy source has been actively studied to solve energy shortages and pollution problems. The generating efficiency of fuel cell is high because the electricity is directly produced by using hydrogen and oxygen and the additional power generator is not needed. The key technology is the manufacturing process of polymer electrolyte membranes for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system. The Nafion, perfluoro-based polymeric membrane is mainly used as a polymer electrolyte membrane. However, the Nafion is expensive and rapidly decreases the performance of Nafion at high temperature. So, many researchers are lively studying new alternative electrolyte membranes. In this review, through the technology competitiveness evaluation of patents and papers, the frequencies of presentation are filed by country, institution and company. In addition, polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell, direct methanol fuel cell and alkaline fuel cell are also filed.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 2004

The performance of fuel cell electrode depends on the characteristics of the catalyst support material. This paper deals with the use of CNF(carbon nanofibre) and CNT(carbon nanotube) as platinum catalyst support. The CNF and CNT were synthesized with catalyst treated by mechanochemical process and were prepared by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. The platinum supported on CNF and CNT for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) application. In result, the best I-V characteristic was verified by the prepared MEA(membrane electrode assembly) from twisted CNF that had a diameter of 65 nm.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.547-553
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• 2015

For commercialization of fuel cell electric vehicles, one of the key objectives is to reduce cost of full stack assembly. Regarding Membrane Electrode Assembly, the major issue is to improve fuel cell activation process in the initial Hydrogen Oxidation Reaction and Oxygen Reduction Reaction. In this research, the VD (Vacuum Drying) process has been developed for improvement of activation process. The VD condition is developed by controlling the temperature and degree of vacuum to remove the remaining solvent of electrode. Consequently, the electrode applied to VD process showed the low characteristics such as 3.5% of remaining solvent content and the improved efficiency such as 15% of activation process speed.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.43-48
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• 2002

In this study, high performance electrode catalyst was developed in fabrication of membrane electrode assembly for PEMFCs(Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells). The I-V characteristics were measured to evaluate the influence of Nafion solution and Pt loading amount in the catalyst composition. The electrode characteristics were also investigated with respect to temperature change. The electrode performance was optimized at Nafion 5 wt% and 0.5 mg Pt/$\textrm{cm}^2$ content. The increase in the concentration of Nafion solution resulted in the decrease in electrode performance. At $80^{\circ}C$ of unit cell, I-V characteristics excelled those obtained at lower temperature. There was no difference in performance at low current density, but the improvement of voltage value in higher temperature could be found at high current density.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.96-110
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• 2024

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are green energy conversion devices, for which commercial markets have been established, owing to their application in fuel cell vehicles (FCVs). Development of cathode electrocatalysts, replacing commercial Pt/C, plays a crucial role in factors such as cost reduction, high performance, and durability in FCVs. PtNi octahedral catalysts are promising for oxygen reduction reactions owing to their significantly higher mass activity (10-15 times) than that of Pt/C; however, their application in membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) is challenged by their low stability. To overcome this durability issue, various approaches, such as third-metal doping, composition control, halide treatment, formation of a Pt layer, annealing treatment, and size control, have been explored and have shown promising improvements in stability in rotating disk electrode (RDE) testing. In this review, we aimed to compare the features of each strategy in terms of enhancing stability by introducing a stability improvement factor for a direct and reasonable comparison. The limitations of each strategy for enhancing stability of PtNi octahedral are also described. This review can serve as a valuable guide for the development of strategies to enhance the durability of octahedral PtNi.