Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society (한국수소및신에너지학회논문집)

The Korean Hydrogen and New Energy Society (한국수소및신에너지학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Analysis for Performance Deviation of Individual Cells in a Multi-Cell Test System for Rapid-Screening of Electrode Materials in PEMFCs

고분자전해질 연료전지용 전극물질의 빠른 스크리닝을 위한 멀티셀 테스트 시스템에서 개별셀의 성능편차에 대한 분석

  • Zhang, Yan (Department of Nano & Chemical Engineering, Kunsan National University) ;
  • Lee, Ji-Jung (Fuel Cell Regional Innovation Center, Woosuk University) ;
  • Park, Gyung-Se (Department of Chemistry, Kunsan National University) ;
  • Lee, Hong-Ki (Fuel Cell Regional Innovation Center, Woosuk University) ;
  • Shim, Joong-Pyo (Department of Nano & Chemical Engineering, Kunsan National University)
  • 장언 (군산대학교 나노화학공학과) ;
  • 이지정 (우석대학교 수소연료전지 부품응용기술 지역혁신센터) ;
  • 박경세 (군산대학교 화학과) ;
  • 이홍기 (우석대학교 수소연료전지 부품응용기술 지역혁신센터) ;
  • 심중표 (군산대학교 나노화학공학과)
  • Received : 2011.11.28
  • Accepted : 2011.12.27
  • Published : 2011.12.31
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

A multi-cell test system with 25 independent cells is used to test different electrode materials simultaneously for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Twenty-five segmented membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) having the same or different Pt-loading are prepared to analyze the performance deviation of cells in the multi-cell test system. Improvements in the multi-cell test system are made by ensuring that the system performs voltage sensing for the cells individually and inserting optimum gaskets between the MEAs and the graphite plates. The cell performances are improved and their deviations are significantly decreased by these modifications. The performance deviations changed according to various cell configurations because the operating conditions of the cells, such as the gas flow and concentration, differed. This cell system can be used to test multiple electrodes simultaneously because it shows relatively uniform performance under the same conditions as well as linear correlation with various catalyst loadings.

Keywords

References

  1. T.R. Ralph, M.P. Hogarth, "Catalysis for Low Temperature Fuel Cells", Platinum Metals Rev., Vol. 46, No. 1, 2002, pp. 3-14.
  2. A. Gasteiger, S.S. Kocha, B.Sompalli, F.T. Wagner, "Activity benchmarks and requirements for Pt, Pt-alloy, and non-Pt oxygen reduction catalysts for PEMFCs" Appl. Cat. B. Environ., Vol. 56, No. 1-2, 2005, pp. 9-35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2004.06.021
  3. Z. Shi, J. Zhang, Z.S. Liu, H. Wang, D.P. Wilkinson, "Current status of ab initio quantum chemistry study for oxygen electroreduction on fuel cell catalysts" Electrochim. Acta, Vol. 51, No. 10, 2006, pp. 1905-1916. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2005.07.006
  4. S.J. Yoo, T.-Y. Jeon, Y.-E. Sung, "Theory & Design of Electrocatalyst for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell", J. Kor. Electrochem. Soc, Vol. 12, No. 1, 2009, pp. 11-25. https://doi.org/10.5229/JKES.2009.12.1.011
  5. 심중표, 이홍기, "고분자전해질 연료전지와 직접메탄올 연료전지를 위한 촉매 소재", 전기전자재료학회지, Vol. 20, No. 4, 2007, pp. 15-25.
  6. E. Reddington, A. Sapienza, B. Gurau, R. Viswanathan, S. Sarangapani, E.S. Smotkin, T.E. Mallouk, "Combinatorial Electrochemistry: A Highly Parallel, Optical Screening Method for Discovery of Better Electrocatalysts", Science, Vol. 280, No. 5370, 1998, pp. 1735-1737. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.280.5370.1735
  7. G. Chen, D.A. Delafuente, S. Saragapani, T.E. Mallouk, "Combinatorial discovery of bifunctional oxygen reduction-water oxidation electrocatalysts for regenerative fuel cells" Catalysis Today, Vol. 67, 2001, pp. 341-355. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0920-5861(01)00327-3
  8. W.C. Choi, J.D. Kim, S.I. Woo, "Quaternary Pt-based electrocatalyst for methanol oxidation by combinatorial electrochemistry" Catalysis Today, Vol. 74, 2002, pp. 235-240. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0920-5861(02)00026-3
  9. R. Jiang, D. Chu, "A combinatorial approach toward electrochemical analysis" J. Electroanal. Chem, Vol. 527, No. 1-2, 2002, pp. 137-142. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-0728(02)00837-9
  10. R. Liu, E.S. Smotkin, "Array membrane electrode assemblies for high throughput screening of direct methanol fuel cell anode catalysts", J. Electroanal. Chem, Vol. 535, No. 1-2, 2002, pp. 49-55. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-0728(02)01144-0
  11. B.C. Chan, R.Liu, K. Jambunathan, H. Zhang, G. Chen, T.E. Mallouk, E.S. Smotkin, "Comparison of High-Throughput Electrochemical Methods for Testing Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Anode Electrocatalysts", J. Electrochem. Soc., Vol. 152, No. 3, 2005, pp. A594-A600. https://doi.org/10.1149/1.1857772
  12. T.E. Mallouk, E.S. Smotkin, "Handbook of Fuel cells - Fundamental, Technology and Application", W. Vielstich, A. Lamn, H.A. Gasteiger(Ed), John Wiley & Sons, 2003, p. 334.
  13. S. Gamburzev, A.J. Appleby, "Recent progress in performance improvement of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC)", J. Power Sources, Vol. 107, No. 1, 2002, pp. 5-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-7753(01)00970-3
  14. S. Litster, G. McLean, "PEM fuel cell electrodes", J. Power Sources, Vol. 130, No. 1-2, 2004, pp. 61-76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2003.12.055
  15. T. Frey, M. Linardi, "Effects of membrane electrode assembly preparation on the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell performance", Electrochim. Acta, Vol. 50, No. 1, 2004, pp. 99-105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2004.07.017
  16. J.-J. Lee, I.-T. Kim, Y. Zhang, H.-K. Lee, J. Shim, "Comparison of Cell Performance with Physical Properties of Gas Diffusion Layers in PEMFCs", J. Kor. Electrochem. Soc, Vol. 10, No. 4, 2007, pp. 270-278. https://doi.org/10.5229/JKES.2007.10.4.270
  17. N.M. Markovic, P.N. Ross, "Surface science studies of model fuel cell electrocatalysts", Surf. Sci. Rep., Vol. 45, 2002, pp. 117-229. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-5729(01)00022-X
  18. S. Gottesfeld, "Fuel cell catalysis", M.T.M. Koper (Ed), John Wiley & Sons, New Jersey, 2009, p. 14.
  19. J. Shim, C.-R. Lee, H.-K. Lee, J.-S. Lee, E.J. Cairns, "Electrochemical characteristics of Pt- $WO_{3}/C$ and $Pt-TiO_{2}/C$ electrocatalysts in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell", J. Power Sources, Vol. 102, No. 1-2, 2001, pp. 172-177. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-7753(01)00817-5
  20. E.S. Smotkin, J. Jiang, A. Nayar, R.Liu, "Highthroughput screening of fuel cell electrocatalysts", Appli. Surf. Sci, Vol. 252, 2006, pp. 2573-2579. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2005.08.115
  21. G. Ma, "Improved fuel cell cathode catalysts using combinatorial methods", Annual Merit Review Proceeding, Department of Energy, USA, 2006.
  22. Y. Kim, J. Lee, S. Im, B. Ahn, T. Lim, "PEMFC Characterization Study by in-situ Analysis Method", Trans. of Kor. Hydro. New Energy Soc., Vol. 20, No. 3, 2009, pp. 208-215.
  23. D. Ahn, S. Han, K. Kim, Y. Choi, "Experimental analysis for variation of pressure difference on flooding in PEM fuel cell at cathode channel outlet", Trans. of Kor. Hydro. New Energy Soc., Vol. 20, No. 5, 2009, pp. 390-396.
  24. K. Ahn, C. Yang, S. Lee, "A study on electrochemical characteristics of MEA with Nafion ionomer content in catalyst layer for PEMFC", Trans. of Kor. Hydro. New Energy Soc., Vol. 21, No. 6, 2010, pp. 540-546.