The Gemini Space program demonstrated the first major application of fuel cell systems. Solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells were used as auxiliary power sources in the spacecraft. There has been considerable progress in this technology since then, particularly with the substitution of Nafion for the polystyrene sulfonate membrane as the electrolyte. The authors present methods to advance the technology by: use of low platinum loading (0.35 mg cm-2) electrodes; optimization of anode/membrane/cathode interfaces by hot-pressing; pressurization of reactant gases which is most important when air is used as cathodic reactant; and adequate humidification of reactant gases to overcome the water management problem. The high performance of the fuel cell with the low loading of platinum appears to be due to the extension of the three dimensional reaction zone by introduction of a proton conductor, Nafion. This was confirmed by cyclic voltammetry


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    Title :

    Advances in solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell technology with low platinum loading electrodes


    Additional title:

    Fortschritte bei Brennstoffzellen mit polymeren Festelektrolyten und mit duenner Platinschicht auf den Eletroden


    Contributors:


    Publication date :

    1988


    Size :

    17 Seiten, 4 Quellen



    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English