• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.194-199
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• 1993

Gas diffusion passes are introduced to catalyst layer so as to enlarge reaction region in cathode and anode and then improve electrode performances. The catalyst layer was manufactured with PTFE/carbon (none catalyst loaded) for gas diffusion and Pt/carbon (10 w/o Pt catalyst loaded) by varing the mixing ratio of (PTFE/carbon) to (Pt/carbon) by catalyst powdering method. The electrodes made by mixing Pt(10 w/o)/carbon powders and PTFE/carbon powders containing 60 w/o PTFE at the ratio of 7 : 3 showed the best electrode performances. It was known that by comparing the porosities to electrode performances the electrode performances were increased as both macro pore for gas diffusion and micro pore for electrolyte intrusion were formed much more. The platinum catalyst content in electrode was 0.2 mg/$\textrm{cm}^2$ and the PTFE content was 42 w/o. The electrode performance in unit cell was 220 ㎃/$\textrm{cm}^2$/0.7 V at operating temperature of 150$^{\circ}C$.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.189-195
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• 2023

As a PEMFC (Polymer Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell) cathode catalyst, Pt-Co/C has recently been widely used because of its improved durability. In a fuel cell, electrodes and electrolytes have a close influence on each other in terms of performance and durability. The effect on the electrochemical durability of the electrolyte membrane when Pt-Co/C was replaced in the Pt/C electrode catalyst was studied. The durability of Pt-Co/C MEA (Membrane Electrode Assembly) was higher than that of Pt/C MEA in the electrochemical accelerated degradation process of PEMFC membrane. As a result of analyzing the FER (Fluorine Emission Rate) and hydrogen permeability, it was shown that the degradation rate of the membrane of Pt-Co/C MEA was lower than that of Pt/C MEA. In the OCV (Open Circuit Voltage) holding process, the rate of decrease of the active area of the Pt-Co/C electrode was lower than that of the Pt/C electrode, and the amount of Pt deposited on the membrane was smaller in Pt-Co/C MEA than in Pt/C MEA. Pt inside the polymer membrane deteriorates the membrane by generating radicals, so the degradation rate of the membrane of Pt/C MEA with a high Pt deposition rate was higher than Pt-Co/C MEA. When the Pt-Co/C catalyst was used, the electrode durability was improved, and the amount of Pt deposited on the membrane was also reduced, thereby improving the electrochemical durability of the membrane.

• 한국전기화학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.07a
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• pp.193-197
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• 2003

Mixture of $Ni(OH)_2-Mg(OH)_2$ used as the precurs was treated by mechnochemical(MC) and hand grinding process. Carbon nanofibers(CNF) were prepared using CVD process with the above prepared catalyst. CNFs with a uniform diameter were obtained with MC process treated catalyst, and the diameter could be controlled by tuning the grinding time. CNF bundles with close coalescence were produced with MC treated catalyst. After purification of CNFs and loading with Pt, they were used in fuel cell as the cathode catalyst support. The performance with carbon nanofibers prepared using ground mixture was found to be better than that prepared using unground mixture, which is attributed to the homogeneous CNFs with small diameter and specific interaction between Pt and CNFs.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.354-361
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• 2022

In a direct methanol fuel cell system (DMFC), one of the drawbacks is methanol crossover. Methanol from the anode passes through the membrane and enters the cathode, causing mixed potential in the cell. Only Pt-based catalysts are capable of operating as cathode for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in a harsh acidic condition of DMFC. However, it causes mixed potential due to high activity toward methanol oxidation reaction of Pt. To overcome this situation, developing Pt-based catalyst that has methanol tolerance is significant, by controlling reactant adsorption or reaction kinetics. Pt/C decorated with phosphate ion was prepared by modified polyol method as cathode catalyst in DMFC. Phosphate ions, bonded to the carbon of Pt/C, surround free Pt surface and block only methanol adsorption on Pt, not oxygen. It leads to the suppression of methanol oxidation in an oxygen atmosphere, resulting in high DMFC performance compared to pristine Pt/C.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.8-18
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• 2012

This paper presents a three-dimensional, transient cold-start polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) model to numerically evaluate the effects of membrane electrode assembly (MEA) design and cell location in a PEFC stack on PEFC cold start behaviors. The cold-start simulations show that the end cell experiences significant heat loss to the sub-freezing ambient and thus finally cold-start failure due to considerable ice filling in the cathode catalyst layer. On the other hand, the middle cells in the stack successfully start from $-30^{\circ}C$ sub-freezing temperature due to rapid cell temperature rise owing to the efficient use of waste heat generated during the cold-start. In addition, the simulation results clearly indicate that the cathode catalyst layer (CL) composition and thickness have an substantial influence on PEFC cold-start behaviors while membrane thickness has limited effect mainly due to inefficient water absorption and transport capability at subzero temperatures.

• Advances in Energy Research
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.21-31
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• 2014

The use of a microporous membrane along with Au/C catalyst for direct glycerol alkaline fuel cell was investigated. In comparison with Nafion 112, the microporous Celgard 3401 membrane provides a better cell performance due to the lower ionic resistance as confirmed by impedance spectra. The single cell using Au/C as anode catalyst prepared by using PVA protection techniques provided a higher maximum power density than the single cell with commercial PtRu/C at $18.65mW\;cm^{-2}$ The short-term current decay studies show a better stability of Au/C single cell. The higher activity of Au/C over PtRu/C was owing to the lower activation loss of Awe. The magnitude of current decay indicates a low problem of glycerol crossover from anode to cathode side. The similar performance of single cell with and without humudification at cathode points out an adequate transport of water through the microporous membrane.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.06a
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• pp.135.2-135.2
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• 2010

Carbon nanotube(CNT) has been spotlighted as a promising candidate for catalyst support material for PEMFC (proton exchange membrane fuel cell). The considerable properties of CNT include high surface area, outstanding thermal, electrical conductivity and mechanical stability. In this study, to fully utilize the properties of CNTs, we prepared directly oriented CNT on carbon paper as a catalyst support in the cathode electrode. The CNT layer was prepared by a chemical vapor deposition(CVD) process. And the Pt particles were deposited on the CNT oriented carbon paper by impregnation and eletro-deposition method. The potential advantages of directly oriented CNT on carbon paper can include improved thermal and charge transfer through direct contact between the electrolyte and the electrode and enhanced exposure of Pt catalyst sites during the reaction.

• New & Renewable Energy
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• v.3 no.1 s.9
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• pp.68-74
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• 2007

The fuel cells for portable application are attracted using a liquid fuel such as methanol and chemical hydride solutions. Recently, DBFC [Direct Borohydride Fuel Cell] is a candidate for power of portable electronic devices. In this work, the anion exchange membrane and non-precious catalyst for the DBFC were concerned. Anion-exchange membrane was fabricated by amination of polysulfone followed chloromethylation. Non-precious catalysts such as raney-Ni and Ag were used as an anode and cathode catalyst. The optimum conditions of catalyst slurry mixing and MEA fabrication were developed. The single cell performance using anion exchange membrane and non-precious catalyst was evaluated and the results were compared with cation exchange membrane [Nafion membrane] and precious catalysts.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.325-328
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• 2006

고분자 전해질 연료전지의 전극을 gradient catalyst coating 방법을 이용하여 제조하였다. 촉매 잉크제조 시 나피온 이오노머의 함침 구성비를 다르게 하여 조성 비율이 다른 gradient 구조를 갖도록 하여 전극을 제조하였다. Anode Cathode의 두 전극을 각각 나피온 함량비가 다른 두 개의 gradient 층구조의 촉매층으로 9:1, 8:2, 7:3, 6:4 비율의 조성비로 성능을 측정하였으며, 전극의 전기화학적 반응 면적을 알아보기 위해 순위전위법을 그리고 분극 저항(Polarization resistance) 변화를 알아보기 위해서는 0.7V에서 임피던스 측정법의 전기화학분석법으로 전극 제조법에 따른 성능변화를 확인하였다. 특히 Gradient catalyst coating 방법을 이용하여 제조한 MEA는 종래 방식의 MEA보다 high current $density(1000mA/cm^2)$이상에서 향상된 성능을 보였다.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.1150-1154
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• 2003

The voltage profile during discharge of the zinc air battery has very flat pattern until reach to end of discharge voltage. But, when zinc air battery is discharged by high current, the discharge voltage and energy becomes low. Therefore, we focused on effects of catalyst size to solve this problems by increasing active sites of oxygen reduction reaction. The size of catalyst was reduced from 27 to l${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ and we examined average discharge voltage, capacity, energy, resistance and characteristics during GSM pulse discharge of zinc air battery with change of current density. And we also measured porosity of the cathode according to the ASTM. So we have got improvement of average discharge voltage and energy when catalyst was minimized and we have got optimum size of catalyst at 5${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$.