• Macromolecular Research
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.101-106
• /
• 2006

The transport of reactant gas, electrons and protons at the three phase interfaces in the catalytic layers of membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) in proton exchange, membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) must be optimized to provide efficient transport to and from the electrochemical reactions in the solid polymer electrolyte. The aim of reducing proton transport loss in the catalytic layer by increasing the volume of the conducting medium can be achieved by filling the voids in the layer with small-sized electrolytes, such as dendrimers. Generation 1.5 and 3.5 polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer electrolytes are well-controlled, nanometer-sized materials with many peripheral ionic exchange, -COOH groups and were used for this purpose in this study. The electrochemically active surface area of the deposited catalyst material was also investigated using cyclic voltammetry, and by analyzing the Pt-H oxidation peak. The performances of the fuel cells with added PAMAM dendrimers were found to be comparable to that of a fuel cell using MEA, although the Pt utilization was reduced by the adsorption of the dendrimers to the catalytic layer.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.657-666
• /
• 2022

The International Maritime Organization(IMO) recommends the active implementation of national policies on technological development and energy efficiency to reduce Green House Gas (GHG) in the international shipping sector. Such IMO environmental regulation policies have a great impact on the entire shipping sector and are also a heavy burden on ship's owners. The most reasonable way to curb GHG emissions from ships comes down to the development of zero-emission ships. In other words, the development of a fuel cell ship (FCS) driven by an eco-friendly fuel is an alternative that can escape the IMO regulations. Countries in Asia, Northern America, and Europe independently develop and produce PEMFC, and are pursuing international standardization by acquiring approval in principle from an internationally accredited registration authority. Currently, there are three types of fuel cells (FC) that are recommended for ships: a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC), a Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell (MCFC), and a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC). In this study, PEMFC, which is expected to grow continuously in the global FC market, was analyzed domestic and international development trends, specifications, performance, and empirical cases applied to ships. In addition, when applying PEMFC to ships, it was intended to suggest matters to be considered and the development direction.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.107-113
• /
• 2016

In this study, an anion-exchange ionomer solution was prepared by grinding poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO) in liquid nitrogen for solid alkaline fuel cells (SAFCs). Type of quaternized PPO (QPPO) solutions was controlled by grinding time. The ionomer binder solutions were characterized in terms of dispersity, particle size, and electrochemical properties. As a result, ionomer binder solutions using grinded polymer showed higher dispersion and smaller particle size distribution than that using non-grinded polymer. The highest ionic conductivity and IEC of the membrane recast by using BPPO-G120s were $0.025S\;cm^{-1}$ and $1.26meq\;g^{-1}$, respectively.

• Membrane Journal
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.171-179
• /
• 2015

Perfluorinated sulfonic acid ionomers (PFSAs) have been widely as solid electrolyte materials for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, since they exhibit excellent chemical durability under their harsh application conditions as well as good proton conductivity. Even PFSA materials, however, suffer from physical failures associated with repeated membrane swelling and deswelling, resulting in fairly reduced electrochemical lifetime. In this study, pore-filling membranes are prepared by impregnating a Nafion ionomer into the pore of a porous PTFE support film and their fundamental characteristics are evaluated. The developed pore-filling membranes exhibit extremely high proton conductivity of about $0.5S\;cm^{-1}@90^{\circ}C$ in liquid water.

• Resources Recycling
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.79-91
• /
• 2017

The core of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCV) is polymer solid fuel cell (PEFC), and the core material that generates electrochemical electricity in the cell is platinum catalyst. Platinum is localized in South Africa and Russia, and the world production of Pt is about 178 tons per year, which is expensive and recycled. At present, the amount of Pt used in PEFC is $0.2{\sim}0.1mg/cm^2$. In order to reduce the price of the battery and increase the FCV supply, the target is to reduce the amount of Pt used to $0.05{\sim}0.03mg/cm^2$. $Pt-Pd/Al_2O_3$, Pt/C, Pt/GCB, Pt/Au/C, PtCo/C, PtPd/C, etc. by using polyol method using nano Pt, improved Cu-UPD/Pt substitution method and nano-capsule method, Have been researched and developed, and there have been reported techniques for improving the activity of Pt catalysts and stabilizing them. This paper investigates the production technology of nano-Pt and nano-Pt catalysts, recycling of spent Pt catalysts and application trends of Pt catalysts.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.12 no.10
• /
• pp.4673-4678
• /
• 2011

In this paper, studies on a mixing characteristic and viscosity measurement of polymer/graphite composites for a bipolar plate of the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell were presented. Since the materials for the bipolar plate should be electrically conductive, contents of solid graphite in the composite are very high. As a consequence, a viscosity of the polymer/graphite composite used for the bipolar plate is very high and the measurement of the viscosity is difficult. Viscosity measurements of the polymer/graphite composites were not possible because pressure drops were continuously fluctuated during the viscosity measurements when a conventional capillary die was used. After the die design was optimized, the steady state pressure drop could be achieved, but the viscosity thus measured was not reproducible. After many trials with different experimental techniques, it was found that melt blending of the grinded powder mixtures of both PET and graphite provides reproducible viscosity measurements and electric conductivities of the polymer/graphite composites.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.257-265
• /
• 2001

Placing a hydrogen conducting, methanol impermeable metallic barrier like palladium (Pd) is a well-known method for preventing methanol crossover through solid polymer electrolyte for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC). Applying a bias potential between the anode and the barrier can further develop this concept so that the hydrogen transfer rate is enhanced. Since hydrogen diffuses in Pd as atomic form while it moves through nafion electrolyte as ion, it has to be reduced or oxidized whenever it passes the interface formed by Pd and the electrolyte. We performed experiments to measure the hydrogen transport through the Pd membrane placed in Nafion electrolyte of hydrogen/oxygen fuel cell (PEMFC). Applying a bias potential between the hydrogen electrode of the cell and the Pd membrane facilitated the hydrogen passage through the Pd membrane. The results show that the cell current measured with the Pd membrane placed reached almost 40 % the value measured with the cell without Pd membrane. It was found that the current flown through the bias path is only a few percent of the cell current.

• Macromolecular Research
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.438-442
• /
• 2006

Novel sulfonated poly(aryl ether ketones) containing benzoxazole were directly synthesized by aromatic nucleophilic polycondensation using various ratios of 2,2'-bi[2-( 4-flurophenyl)benzoxazol-6-yl]hexafluoropropane to sodium 5,5'-carbonylbis(2-fluorobenzenesulfonate). The copolymers were soluble in polar aprotic solvents such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N,N-dimethylacetamide, and N,N-dimethylformamide at a relatively high solid composition (>15 wt%) and formed tough, flexible and transparent membranes. The membranes exhibited a degradation temperature of above $290^{\circ}C$. The exact dissolution times of these membranes at $80^{\circ}C$ in Fenton's reagent (3 wt% $H_2O_2$ containing 2 ppm $FeSO_4$) were undetectable, confirming their excellent chemical stability in fuel cell application. The membranes showed a moderate increase in water uptake with respect to increasing temperature. The proton conductivities of the membranes were dependent on the composition and ranged from $1.10{\times}10^{-2}$ to $5.50{\times}10^{-2}Scm^{-1}$ at $80^{\circ}C$ and 95% relative humidity (RH). At $120^{\circ}C$ without externally humidified conditions, the conductivities increased above $10^{-2}Scm^{-1}$ with respect to increasing benzoxazole content, which suggested that the benzoxazole moieties contributed to the proton conduction.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2009.06a
• /
• pp.412-414
• /
• 2009

In recent times, starting up polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells(PEMFC) in sub-zero condition is a great challenge of fuel cell electric vehicle(FCEV). The water produced in a cathode during PEMFCs operate. The water changes into the form of solid/ice in sub-zero temperatures and this makes trouble in PEMFC cells. Voltage of PEMFC drops and cold startup is failed. This paper describes an experimental study on the effect of thermal cycle to degradation of MEA in PEMFC.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.324-332
• /
• 2004

According to the rapid depletion of the fossil fuels, the electricity and hydrogen will gradually take charge of the future energy supply. Especially, in order to control the supply and demand of electricity, energy storage medium is necessary and this could be solved by the combination of water electrolysis and fuel cell. Although electricity can be generated from such alternative energies as hydropower, nuclear, solar, and wind-power resources, alternative energy storage medium is also required since regenerative energies, solar and wind-powers, are intermittent energy resources. In this regard, hydrogen production from water electrolysis was recognized as a superb method for electricity storage. In this work, the current development and economic status of alkaline, solid polymer, and high temperature electrolysis were reviewed, and then the practical use of water electrolysis technology were discussed.