Preparations of SPE Electrocatalysts Modified with Polypyrrole and Its Application for PEMFC

In this study, a novel deposition method of Pt catalysts onto Nafion membranes modified with polypyrrole (PPy) has been proposed for PEMFC application. The PPy/Nafion composite membranes were fabricated by chemical polymerization of pyrrole using $FeCl_3$ and $Na_2S_2O_8$ as initiator. The proton conductivity and water uptake of the chemically prepared PPy/Nafion composites were investigated. The ionic conductivity and water uptake of PPy/Nafion composite membrane prepared with $Na_2S_2O_8$ were decreased with polymerization time of pyrrole. In the case of $FeCl_3$, the ionic conductivity was almost retained and the water uptake was decreased with polymerization time of pyrrole. When the Pt particle was deposited on PPy/Nafion composites membrane by chemical reduction of $H_2PtCl_6$, the Pt loading on Nafion membrane was enhanced by polypyrrole due to electronic conduction property. The performance evaluation with membrane electrode assembly composed of Pt/PPy/Nafion composite and diffusion electrode was carried out using a single cell. As a result of fuel cell test, current density of $569mA/cm^2$ at 0.3 V has been obtained for MEA contained with Pt/PPy/Nafion composite. This study shows that direct deposition of Pt catalysts on Nafion impregnated polypyrrole is a promising method to prepare thin catalyst layer for the PEMFC.

폴리피롤로 개질된 SPE 전극촉매의 제조 및 PEMFC로의 응용

본 연구에서는 폴리피롤로 개질된 Nafion 막에 직접적으로 백금촉매를 담지하는 방법을 제시하고 PEMFC로의 응용을 검토하였다. 개시제로 $FeCl_3$ 및 $Na_2S_2O_8$을 사용하여 피롤을 Nafion 막에 중합하였다. 제저된 PPy/Nafion 복합체 막의 양이온 전도도와 함수율을 측정한 결과, $Na_2S_2O_8$을 사용하여 제조된 복합체 막은 피롤 중합시간이 증가할수록 양이온 전도도와 함수율은 감소하였고, $FeCl_3$의 경우 함수율은 감소하지만 양이온 전도도는 유지되었다. 폴리피롤로 개질된 Nafion 막에 백금 촉매를 화학적 환원법에 의해 함침한 결과, 폴리피롤의 전자 전도성 특성에 의해 백금 담지가 향상됨을 알 수 있었다. 또한 Pt/PPy/Nafion 전극촉매와 확산 전극으로 구성된 MEA를 단위 연료전지 성능평가를 행한 결과, 0.3 V의 전위에서 $569mA/cm^2$의 전류밀도 값을 갖는 연료전지 성능을 얻을 수 있었다.