Effects of Catalyst Ink Storage on Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells

Mario Kircher (), Michaela Roschger, Wai Yee Koo, Fabio Blaschke, Maximilian Grandi, Merit Bodner and Viktor Hacker
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Mario Kircher: Institute of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology (CEET), Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 25C, 8010 Graz, Austria
Michaela Roschger: Institute of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology (CEET), Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 25C, 8010 Graz, Austria
Wai Yee Koo: Chemical Engineering Department, UTP Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Persiaran UTP, Seri Iskandar 32610, Malaysia
Fabio Blaschke: Institute of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology (CEET), Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 25C, 8010 Graz, Austria
Maximilian Grandi: Institute of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology (CEET), Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 25C, 8010 Graz, Austria
Merit Bodner: Institute of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology (CEET), Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 25C, 8010 Graz, Austria
Viktor Hacker: Institute of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology (CEET), Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 25C, 8010 Graz, Austria

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 19, 1-20

Abstract: The shelf-life of catalyst ink for fabricating polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) is relevant for large-scale manufacturing with unforeseen production stops. In this study, the storage effects on the physicochemical characteristics of catalyst ink (Pt/C, Nafion, 2-propanol, water) and subsequently manufactured catalyst layers are investigated. Sedimentation analysis showed that catalyst particles are not fully stabilized by charge interaction induced by Nafion. Acetone was found to be an oxidation product, even in freshly prepared ink with platinum catalyzing the reaction. Rotating disk electrode analysis revealed that the electrochemically active surface area is, overall, minimally increased by storage, and the selectivity towards water formation (4-electron pathway) is unharmed within the first 48 h of storage. MEAs prepared from stored ink reach almost the same current density level after conditioning via potential cycling. The open-circuit voltage (OCV) increases due to increased catalyst availability. Scanning electron microscopy and mercury intrusion porosimetry showed that with increasing acetone content, the pore structure becomes finer, with a higher specific surface area. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed that this results in a more hindered mass transfer but lowered charge transfer resistance. The MEA with the highest OCV and power output and the lowest overall cell resistance was fabricated from catalyst ink stored for a duration of four weeks.

Keywords: polymer electrolyte fuel cell; catalyst ink storage; UV-vis spectroscopy; gas chromatography; rotating disk electrode; impedance spectroscopy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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