Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEFC) systems for fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) require both performance and durability. Carbon is the typical support material used for PEFC catalysts. However, hydrogen starvation at the anode causes high electrode potential states (e.g., 1.3 V with respect to the reversible hydrogen electrode) that result in severe carbon support corrosion. Serious damage to the carbon support due to hydrogen starvation can lead to irreversible performance loss in PEFC systems. To avoid such high electrode potentials, FCV PEFC systems often utilize cell voltage monitor systems (CVMs) that are expensive to use and install. Simplifying PEFC systems by removing these CVMs would help reduce costs, which is a vital part of popularizing FCVs. However, one precondition for removing CVMs is the adoption of a durable support material to replace carbon. For this reason, tin oxide and titanium oxide were examined as cathode and anode support materials, respectively, since these materials are more stable under high potentials than carbon. Membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) with titanium oxide- and tin oxide-supported platinum (Pt) catalysts were prepared and compared with conventional carbon-supported Pt catalysts. The results of this study found that MEAs using these metal oxide supports achieved equivalent performance to conventional carbon-supported Pt catalysts. These metal oxide supports were also more durable under a high potential (1.3 V) than carbon-supported Pt catalysts.
Study of Oxide Supports for PEFC Catalyst
Sae Int. J. Alt. Power
WCX™ 17: SAE World Congress Experience ; 2017
Sae International Journal of Alternative Powertrains ; 6 , 1 ; 145-150
2017-03-28
6 pages
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Englisch
TIBKAT | 2001
|PEFC electrodes : structure and reactivity
TIBKAT | 2006
|Influence of catalyst and gas diffusion layer degradation on flooding in pefc
Online Contents | 2009
|Study of PEFC Propulsion System for Surface Ships
British Library Conference Proceedings | 1996
|