Water management improvement in PEM fuel cells via addition of PDMS or APTES polymers to the catalyst layer

Authors : Hande UNGAN, Ayse BAYRAKCEKEN YURTCAN

Pages : 1227-1243

View : 19 | Download : 9

Publication Date : 0000-00-00

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Water management is one of the obstacles in the development and commercialization of proton exchange membrane fuel cells insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(PEW:Cs);. Sufficient humidification of the membrane directly affects the PEM fuel cell performance. Therefore, 2 different hydrophobic polymers, polydimethylsiloxane insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(PDMS); and insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(3-Aminopropyl); triethoxysilane insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(APTES);, were tested at different percentages insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(5, 10, and 20 wt.%); in the catalyst layer. The solution was loaded onto the surface of a 25 BC gas diffusion layer insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(GDIL); via the spraying method. The performance of the obtained fuel cells was compared with the performance of the commercial catalyst. Characterizations of each surface, including different amounts of PDMS and APTES, were performed via scanning electron microscopy insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(SEM); and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(EDX); analyses. Molecular bond characterization was examined via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(FTIR); analysis and surface hydrophobicity was measured via contact angle measurements. The performance of the fuel cells was evaluated at the PEM fuel cell test station and the 2 hydrophobic polymers were compared. Surfaces containing APTES were found to be snore hydrophobic. Fuel cells with PDMS performed better when compared to those with APTES. Fuel cells with 5wt.% APTES with a current density of 321.31 mA/cminsert ignore into journalissuearticles values(2); and power density of 0.191 W/cminsert ignore into journalissuearticles values(2);, and 10wt.% PDMS with a current density of 344.52 mA/cminsert ignore into journalissuearticles values(2); and power density of 0.205 W/cminsert ignore into journalissuearticles values(2); were the best performing fuel cells at 0.6V.
Keywords : PEM fuel cell, water management, PDMS, APTES, hydrophobicity