Durable and self-hydrating tungsten carbide-based composite polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

Weiqing Zheng, Liang Wang, Fei Deng, Stephen A. Giles, Ajay K. Prasad (), Suresh G. Advani, Yushan Yan and Dionisios G. Vlachos ()
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Weiqing Zheng: University of Delaware
Liang Wang: University of Delaware
Fei Deng: University of Delaware
Stephen A. Giles: University of Delaware
Ajay K. Prasad: University of Delaware
Suresh G. Advani: University of Delaware
Yushan Yan: University of Delaware
Dionisios G. Vlachos: University of Delaware

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Proton conductivity of the polymer electrolyte membranes in fuel cells dictates their performance and requires sufficient water management. Here, we report a simple, scalable method to produce well-dispersed transition metal carbide nanoparticles. We demonstrate that these, when added as an additive to the proton exchange Nafion membrane, provide significant enhancement in power density and durability over 100 hours, surpassing both the baseline Nafion and platinum-containing recast Nafion membranes. Focused ion beam/scanning electron microscope tomography reveals the key membrane degradation mechanism. Density functional theory exposes that OH• and H• radicals adsorb more strongly from solution and reactions producing OH• are significantly more endergonic on tungsten carbide than on platinum. Consequently, tungsten carbide may be a promising catalyst in self-hydrating crossover gases while retarding desorption of and capturing free radicals formed at the cathode, resulting in enhanced membrane durability.

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00507-6

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