In situ voltammetric characterization of PEM fuel cell catalyst layers

Kumpulainen Heikki; Peltonen Terttu; Koponen Ulla; Mikael Bergelin; Valkiainen Matti; Wasberg Mikael

In situ voltammetric characterization of PEM fuel cell catalyst layers

Kumpulainen Heikki, Peltonen Terttu, Koponen Ulla, Mikael Bergelin, Valkiainen Matti, Wasberg Mikael

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Scientific

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In our work we have studied inhouse made membrane electrode assembly (MEA) (geometric area 5 cm2) based on com. (E-TEK, Inc.) carbon supported Pt and Pt/Ru catalysts. A Nafion 115 membrane was coated with ink contg. Pt/C catalyst and Nafion soln. and dried layers were sintered by hot pressing. After post-processing the membranes were installed in a single cell test fixture. In addn., the ink used for coating was characterized in thin film form in sulfuric acid electrolyte and the results were compared to the fuel cell data. Current-voltage characteristics were measured after a running-in period of about 16 h. After cooling the test fixture down to room temp. the cyclic voltammograms were taken in situ by using a two-electrode potentiostatic measurement circuit. The electrode under study is purged by an inert gas (N2) while the other electrode is purged by hydrogen gas so as to form a reversible hydrogen electrode. In this manner the surface processes taking place on both the anode and cathode side of the MEA could be measured and evaluated. From the hydrogen desorption charge on Pt the available Pt surface area has been detd. and the ratio between measured area and calcd. total Pt area was in the range of 30%. The ratios between electrochem. surface areas on the anode and cathode side compare well with the corresponding ratios obtained from calcns. of total added Pt surface area. The relation between the voltammetrically obtained surface areas and the polarization data (current-voltage curves) is discussed. An enlargement of the active surface area could be noted after potential scans into the Pt oxide formation region. This indicates the presence of a deactivation process, probably due to adsorbed org. material removed oxidatively during the extended polarization. When MEAs based on Pt/Ru alloy catalysts were measured the hydrogen adsorption charge decreased as a result of the lower hydrogen adsorption capability of Ru. In the double layer region the formation of Ru-oxides was also well manifested.

Original language	Undefined/Unknown
Title of host publication	VTT Tiedotteita
Editors	VTT Processes
Publisher	Valtion teknillinen tutkimuskeskus (VTT)
Pages	1–28
ISBN (Print)	951-38-5887-1
Publication status	Published - 2002
MoE publication type	B2 Part of a book or another research book

Cite this

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title = "In situ voltammetric characterization of PEM fuel cell catalyst layers",

abstract = "In our work we have studied inhouse made membrane electrode assembly (MEA) (geometric area 5 cm2) based on com. (E-TEK, Inc.) carbon supported Pt and Pt/Ru catalysts. A Nafion 115 membrane was coated with ink contg. Pt/C catalyst and Nafion soln. and dried layers were sintered by hot pressing. After post-processing the membranes were installed in a single cell test fixture. In addn., the ink used for coating was characterized in thin film form in sulfuric acid electrolyte and the results were compared to the fuel cell data. Current-voltage characteristics were measured after a running-in period of about 16 h. After cooling the test fixture down to room temp. the cyclic voltammograms were taken in situ by using a two-electrode potentiostatic measurement circuit. The electrode under study is purged by an inert gas (N2) while the other electrode is purged by hydrogen gas so as to form a reversible hydrogen electrode. In this manner the surface processes taking place on both the anode and cathode side of the MEA could be measured and evaluated. From the hydrogen desorption charge on Pt the available Pt surface area has been detd. and the ratio between measured area and calcd. total Pt area was in the range of 30%. The ratios between electrochem. surface areas on the anode and cathode side compare well with the corresponding ratios obtained from calcns. of total added Pt surface area. The relation between the voltammetrically obtained surface areas and the polarization data (current-voltage curves) is discussed. An enlargement of the active surface area could be noted after potential scans into the Pt oxide formation region. This indicates the presence of a deactivation process, probably due to adsorbed org. material removed oxidatively during the extended polarization. When MEAs based on Pt/Ru alloy catalysts were measured the hydrogen adsorption charge decreased as a result of the lower hydrogen adsorption capability of Ru. In the double layer region the formation of Ru-oxides was also well manifested.",

author = "Kumpulainen Heikki and Peltonen Terttu and Koponen Ulla and Mikael Bergelin and Valkiainen Matti and Wasberg Mikael",

year = "2002",

language = "Odefinierat/ok{\"a}nt",

isbn = "951-38-5887-1",

pages = "1–28",

editor = "VTT Processes",

booktitle = "VTT Tiedotteita",

publisher = "Valtion teknillinen tutkimuskeskus (VTT)",

}

TY - CHAP

T1 - In situ voltammetric characterization of PEM fuel cell catalyst layers

AU - Heikki, Kumpulainen

AU - Terttu, Peltonen

AU - Ulla, Koponen

AU - Bergelin, Mikael

AU - Matti, Valkiainen

AU - Mikael, Wasberg

PY - 2002

Y1 - 2002

N2 - In our work we have studied inhouse made membrane electrode assembly (MEA) (geometric area 5 cm2) based on com. (E-TEK, Inc.) carbon supported Pt and Pt/Ru catalysts. A Nafion 115 membrane was coated with ink contg. Pt/C catalyst and Nafion soln. and dried layers were sintered by hot pressing. After post-processing the membranes were installed in a single cell test fixture. In addn., the ink used for coating was characterized in thin film form in sulfuric acid electrolyte and the results were compared to the fuel cell data. Current-voltage characteristics were measured after a running-in period of about 16 h. After cooling the test fixture down to room temp. the cyclic voltammograms were taken in situ by using a two-electrode potentiostatic measurement circuit. The electrode under study is purged by an inert gas (N2) while the other electrode is purged by hydrogen gas so as to form a reversible hydrogen electrode. In this manner the surface processes taking place on both the anode and cathode side of the MEA could be measured and evaluated. From the hydrogen desorption charge on Pt the available Pt surface area has been detd. and the ratio between measured area and calcd. total Pt area was in the range of 30%. The ratios between electrochem. surface areas on the anode and cathode side compare well with the corresponding ratios obtained from calcns. of total added Pt surface area. The relation between the voltammetrically obtained surface areas and the polarization data (current-voltage curves) is discussed. An enlargement of the active surface area could be noted after potential scans into the Pt oxide formation region. This indicates the presence of a deactivation process, probably due to adsorbed org. material removed oxidatively during the extended polarization. When MEAs based on Pt/Ru alloy catalysts were measured the hydrogen adsorption charge decreased as a result of the lower hydrogen adsorption capability of Ru. In the double layer region the formation of Ru-oxides was also well manifested.

AB - In our work we have studied inhouse made membrane electrode assembly (MEA) (geometric area 5 cm2) based on com. (E-TEK, Inc.) carbon supported Pt and Pt/Ru catalysts. A Nafion 115 membrane was coated with ink contg. Pt/C catalyst and Nafion soln. and dried layers were sintered by hot pressing. After post-processing the membranes were installed in a single cell test fixture. In addn., the ink used for coating was characterized in thin film form in sulfuric acid electrolyte and the results were compared to the fuel cell data. Current-voltage characteristics were measured after a running-in period of about 16 h. After cooling the test fixture down to room temp. the cyclic voltammograms were taken in situ by using a two-electrode potentiostatic measurement circuit. The electrode under study is purged by an inert gas (N2) while the other electrode is purged by hydrogen gas so as to form a reversible hydrogen electrode. In this manner the surface processes taking place on both the anode and cathode side of the MEA could be measured and evaluated. From the hydrogen desorption charge on Pt the available Pt surface area has been detd. and the ratio between measured area and calcd. total Pt area was in the range of 30%. The ratios between electrochem. surface areas on the anode and cathode side compare well with the corresponding ratios obtained from calcns. of total added Pt surface area. The relation between the voltammetrically obtained surface areas and the polarization data (current-voltage curves) is discussed. An enlargement of the active surface area could be noted after potential scans into the Pt oxide formation region. This indicates the presence of a deactivation process, probably due to adsorbed org. material removed oxidatively during the extended polarization. When MEAs based on Pt/Ru alloy catalysts were measured the hydrogen adsorption charge decreased as a result of the lower hydrogen adsorption capability of Ru. In the double layer region the formation of Ru-oxides was also well manifested.

M3 - Kapitel

SN - 951-38-5887-1

SP - 1

EP - 28

BT - VTT Tiedotteita

A2 - Processes, VTT

PB - Valtion teknillinen tutkimuskeskus (VTT)

ER -