High performance polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) with gradient Pt nanowire cathodes prepared by decal transfer method

Zhaoxu Wei, Kaihua Su, Sheng Sui*, An He, Shangfeng Du

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A gradient Pt nanowire (Pt-NW) cathode with a promoted mass transfer and Pt utilization was developed by decal transfer method. The relationships of Pt loading and ionomer content with electrode performance were investigated by electrode structure characterization and testing in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The results show that an increasing Pt loading can improve the catalytic kinetic performance of Pt-NW electrode, but too higher a Pt loading leads to serious aggregation and thus low catalyst utilization. A similar trend was found to the ionomer content sprayed onto the Pt-NW cathode. The ionomer extends the triple-phase boundary (TPB), but excessive amount would cover part of the catalyst active sites and hinder the mass transfer. The optimal performance of the Pt-NW cathode is achieved at 0.30 mgPt cm-2 and 33 wt% ionomer, where a maximum power density of 0.93 W cm-2 is obtained, which is better than the state-of-the-art commercial gas diffusion electrode (GDE) with 0.40 mgPt cm-2.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3068-3074
Number of pages7
JournalInternational Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Volume40
Issue number7
Early online date24 Jan 2015
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 23 Feb 2015

Keywords

  • Decal transfer method
  • Electrode
  • Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC)
  • Pt nanowire
  • Triple-phase boundary (TPB)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • Fuel Technology
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology

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