Korean Chemical Engineering Research

The Korean Institute of Chemical Engineers (한국화학공학회)
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Iron Ion Contamination and Acid Washing Effect of Polymer Membrane and Electrode in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell

고분자전해질 연료전지에서 고분자 막과 전극의 철 이온 오염 및 산 세척 효과

  • Yoo, Donggeun (Department of Chemical Engineering, Sunchon National University) ;
  • Park, Minjeong (Department of Chemical Engineering, Sunchon National University) ;
  • Oh, Sohyeong (Department of Chemical Engineering, Sunchon National University) ;
  • Park, Kwon-Pil (Department of Chemical Engineering, Sunchon National University)
  • 유동근 (순천대학교 화학공학과) ;
  • 박민정 (순천대학교 화학공학과) ;
  • 오소형 (순천대학교 화학공학과) ;
  • 박권필 (순천대학교 화학공학과)
  • Received : 2021.08.26
  • Accepted : 2021.11.16
  • Published : 2022.02.01
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Abstract

In the process of long-term use of PEMFC (Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells), chemical degradation of membrane electrode assembly (MEA) occurs due to corrosion of stack elements and contamination of supply gas. In this study, we investigated whether chemically degraded MEA can be recovered by acid washing. The performance was measured and compared in a PEMFC cell after contamination with iron ions and washing with an aqueous sulfuric acid solution. The performance was reduced by about 25% by 0.5 ppm iron ion contamination, and 97.1% performance recovery was possible by washing of 0.15 M sulfuric acid. The membrane resistance was increased due to iron ion contamination of the polymer membrane, and the ionic conductivity was restored by washing the iron ions from the membrane while minimizing the loss of the electrode catalyst by washing with a low-concentration sulfuric acid aqueous solution. The possibility of solving the decrease in durability caused by chemical contamination of PEMFC MEA by the acid washing was confirmed.

고분자전해질연료전지 (PEMFC) 장기사용과정에서스택요소의부식및공급가스의오염에의해막전극합체 (MEA)의 화학적 열화가 발생한다. 본 연구에서는 화학적으로 열화된 MEA를 산 세척해서 성능을 회복시킬 수 있는지 연구하였다. 철 이온을 오염시키고 황산 수용액으로 세척하여 PEMFC 셀에서 성능을 측정해 비교했다. 0.5 ppm의 철 이온 오염에 의해 약 25%의 성능 감소가 있었고 0.15 M 황산 세척에 의해 97.1% 성능회복이 가능했다. 고분자 막의 철 이온 오염에 의해 막 저항이 증가했고, 저농도 황산 수용액 세척에 의해 전극 촉매의 손실을 최소화하면서 막에서 철 이온을 세척함으로써 이온전도도가 회복되었다. PEMFC MEA의 화학적 오염에 의한 내구성 감소를 산 세척에 의해 해결할 수 있는 가능성을 확인하였다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

본 연구는 2020년도 산업통상자원부 및 산업기술평가관리원(KEIT) 연구비 지원에 의한 연구입니다(20011633).

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