A facile approach to improve the performance of alkaline anion exchange membrane fuel cells by reducing ionic resistance

• Published in: Journal of industrial and engineering chemistry (Seoul, Korea) Vol. 61; pp. 437 - 444
• Main Authors: Kim, Min Jeong, Kim, Ok-Hee, Kim, Sungjun, Choi, Young-Woo, Cho, Yong-Hun, Sung, Yung-Eun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 25.05.2018; 한국공업화학회
• Subjects: Alkaline anion exchange membrane fuel cells; Ionic conductivity; Membrane electrode assembly; Non-platinum group catalyst; 화학공학; Non-platinum group catalyst; Alkaline anion exchange membrane fuel cells; Membrane electrode assembly; Ionic conductivity
• ISSN: 1226-086X; 1876-794X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jiec.2017.12.043

[Display omitted] •AEMFC is improved by immersing the whole MEA in KOH solution before cell operation.•KOH treatment reduces the ionic resistance in the catalyst layer.•AEFMC prepared using a non-PGM catalyst shows higher performance improvement than one prepared with a Pt/C catalyst after treatment of MEA. In this study, by treating not only the membrane but also the whole membrane electrode assembly (MEA) with KOH solution prior to incorporation in alkaline anion exchange membrane fuel cells, an ionic pathway for hydroxide conduction has optimized in the catalyst layer. This lowers the ohmic resistance of the KOH-treated MEA as detected by the polarization curve and impedance spectroscopy analysis. The process has greater advantage for non-platinum group metal (PGM) catalysts than PGM catalysts, because of the lower active site density and consequent high loading required for non-PGM catalysts.