Korean Chemical Engineering Research

The Korean Institute of Chemical Engineers (한국화학공학회)
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Effect of Compensation for Thickness Reduction by Chemical Degradation of PEMFC Membrane on Performance and Durability

PEMFC 고분자막의 화학적인 열화에 의한 두께 감소 보정이 성능 및 내구성에 미치는 영향

  • Sohyeong Oh (Department of Chemical Engineering, Sunchon National University) ;
  • Yoojin Kim (Department of Chemical Engineering, Sunchon National University) ;
  • Seungtae Lee (Department of Chemical Engineering, Sunchon National University) ;
  • Donggeun Yoo (Department of Chemical Engineering, Sunchon National University) ;
  • Kwonpil Park (Department of Chemical Engineering, Sunchon National University)
  • 오소형 (순천대학교 화학공학과) ;
  • 김유진 (순천대학교 화학공학과) ;
  • 이승태 (순천대학교 화학공학과) ;
  • 유동근 (순천대학교 화학공학과) ;
  • 박권필 (순천대학교 화학공학과)
  • Received : 2023.08.17
  • Accepted : 2023.12.21
  • Published : 2024.02.01
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Abstract

As the demand for hydrogen electric vehicles for commercial vehicles increases, the durability of PEMFCs must increase more than five times that of passenger cars, so research and development to improve durability is urgent. When the PEMFC membrane electrode assembly (MEA) undergoes chemical degradation, the MEA thickness decreases and pinholes occur. In this study, changes in the performance and durability of the MEA were measured while increasing the clamping pressure of the unit cell after open circuit voltage (OCV) holding, an accelerated chemical degradation experiment. As the clamping pressure increased, the resistance of the polymer membrane and the membrane/electrode contact resistance decreased, improving the I-V performance and reducing the hydrogen permeability. As the hydrogen permeability decreased, the OCV increased. When the pinhole area was removed and the MEA clamping pressure was increased, the hydrogen permeability decreased sharply, confirming that the local degradation has a large effect on the performance and durability of the entire cell. When the pinhole was removed and re-clamping and OCV holding was evaluated, it was confirmed that the durability improved according to the decrease in membrane resistance and hydrogen permeability.

상용차용 수소 전기 차량 수요가 증가하면서 고분자 전해질 연료전지 (PEMFC) 내구성은 승용차용보다 5배 이상 증가해야 하므로 내구성 향상 연구개발이 시급한 상황이다. PEMFC 막전극접합체 (MEA)가 화학적 열화가 진행되면 MEA 두께가 감소하고 핀홀이 발생하기도 한다. 본 연구에서는 화학적 열화 가속 실험인 개회로전압 (OCV) holding 후에 단위전지의 체결압을 상승시키면서 MEA의 성능 및 내구성의 변화를 측정하였다. 체결압이 상승하면서 고분자막의 저항과 막/전극 접촉저항이 감소하여 I-V 성능이 향상되었고, 수소투과도가 감소하였다. 수소투과도 감소에 따라 OCV는 증가하였다. 핀홀 부위를 제거하고 MEA 체결압을 증가시켰을 때 수소투과도가 급감하여 국부적인 열화가 전체 셀의 성능과 내구성에 미치는 영향이 큼을 확인하였다. 핀홀 부위 제거 후 재체결하고 OCV holding 평가를 하였을 때 막 저항과 수소투과도 감소에 따라 내구성이 향상됨을 확인하였다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

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

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