Demonstration of a 20 W class high-temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack with novel fabrication of a membrane electrode assembly

Hye Jin Lee, Byoung Gak Kim, Dong Hoon Lee, Se Jin Park, Yongmin Kim, Jeung Woo Lee, Dirk Henkensmeier, Suk Woo Nam, Hyoung Juhn Kim, Hwayong Kim, Ju Yong Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

33 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Acid-doped polybenzimidazole (PBI) membrane and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-based electrodes are used for the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) in high-temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cells (HTPEFCs). To find the optimum PTFE content for the catalyst layer, the PTFE ratio in the electrodes is varied from 25 to 50 wt%. To improve the performance of the electrodes, PBI is added to the catalyst layer. With a weight ratio of PTFE to Pt/C of 45:55 (45 wt% PTFE in the catalyst layer), the fuel cell shows good performance at 150 °C under non-humidified conditions. When 5 wt% PBI is added to the electrodes, performance is further improved (250 mA cm-2 at 0.6 V). Our 20 W class HTPEFC stack is fabricated with a novel MEA. This MEA consists of 8 layers (1 phosphoric acid-doped PBI membrane, 2 electrodes, 1 sub-gasket, 2 gas-diffusion media, 2 gas-sealing gaskets). The sub-gasket mitigates the destruction of a highly acid-doped PBI membrane and provides long-term durability to the fuel cell stack. The stack operates for 1200 h without noticeable cell degradation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5521-5526
Number of pages6
JournalInternational Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Volume36
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2011 May

Keywords

  • Fuel cell stack
  • High-temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cell
  • Membrane electrolyte assembly
  • Phosphoric acid-doped polybenzimidazole

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • Fuel Technology
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology

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