Korean Chemical Engineering Research

The Korean Institute of Chemical Engineers (한국화학공학회)
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Study on the Platinum Deposition in Membrane of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell during Electrode Degradation Process

고분자전해질 연료전지의 전극 열화 과정에서 고분자막에 석출된 백금에 관한 연구

  • Oh, Sohyeong (Department of Chemical Engineering, Sunchon National University) ;
  • Gwon, Hyejin (Department of Chemical Engineering, Sunchon National University) ;
  • Yoo, Donggeun (Department of Chemical Engineering, Sunchon National University) ;
  • Park, Kwonpil (Department of Chemical Engineering, Sunchon National University)
  • 오소형 (순천대학교 화학공학과) ;
  • 권혜진 (순천대학교 화학공학과) ;
  • 유동근 (순천대학교 화학공학과) ;
  • 박권필 (순천대학교 화학공학과)
  • Received : 2021.10.07
  • Accepted : 2021.12.14
  • Published : 2022.05.01
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Abstract

The study on electrode degradation of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) was mainly studied on the particle growth and active area reduction of Pt on the electrode. The degradation of the electrode catalyst Pt in contact with the membrane affects the deterioration of the polymer membrane, but there are not many studies related to this. In this study, the phenomenon of the deposition of deteriorated Pt inside the polymer membrane during the accelerated electrode catalyst degradation test and its effects were studied. The voltage change (0.6 V ↔ 0.9 V) was repeated up to 30,000 cycles to accelerate the platinum degradation rate. When the voltage change cycle was repeated while oxygen was introduced into the cathode, the amount of Pt deposited inside the film was larger than when nitrogen was introduced. As the number of voltage change cycles increased, the amount of Pt deposited inside the membrane increased, and Pt dissolved in the cathode moved toward the anode, showing a uniform distribution throughout the membrane at 20,000 cycles. In the process of the accelerated electrode catalyst degradation test, the hydrogen crossover current density of the membrane did not change, and it was confirmed that the deposited Pt did not affect the durability of the membrane.

고분자 전해질 연료전지(PEMFC)의 전극 열화에 대한 연구는 전극상에서 Pt의 입자 성장 및 활성면적 감소에 대한 연구가 대부분이다. 고분자막과 접해 있는 전극촉매 Pt의 열화는 고분자막 열화에 영향을 주는데, 이와 관련된 연구는 많지 않다. 본 연구에서는 전극촉매 열화 가속 시험 과정에서 열화된 Pt가 고분자막 내부에 석출되는 현상과 그 영향에 대해서 연구하였다. 백금 열화 속도를 가속화시키기 위해 전압 변화(0.6 V ↔ 0.9 V)를 30,000 사이클까지 반복했다. Cathode에 산소를 유입하면서 전압 변화 사이클을 반복했을 때 질소를 유입했을 때 보다 막 내부에 석출된 Pt의 양이 더 많았다. 전압 변화 사이클 횟수가 증가할수록 막 내부에 석출된 Pt의 양이 증가하였고, cathode에서 용해된 Pt가 anode 쪽으로 이동해 20,000 사이클에서는 막 내부에 전체적으로 균일한 분포를 보였다. 이와 같은 전극촉매 열화 가속 시험과정에서 고분자막의 수소투과 전류밀도는 거의 변하지 않아서, 석출된 Pt가 고분자막의 내구성에는 영향을 주지 않음을 확인하였다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

본 연구는 2021년도 산업통상자원부 및 산업기술평가관리원(KEIT) 연구비 지원에 의한 연구입니다(20015756).

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