Optimization of fabrication conditions for low-Pt anode using response surface methodology in high-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell

• Published in: Journal of industrial and engineering chemistry (Seoul, Korea) Vol. 109; pp. 267 - 274
• Main Authors: Jung, Hyeon-Seung, Kim, Do-Hyung, Chun, Hyunsoo, Pak, Chanho
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 25.05.2022; 한국공업화학회
• Subjects: Gas diffusion electrode; Heat treatment temperature; High-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells; Low platinum electrode; Polytetrafluoroethylene concentration; Response surface methodology; 화학공학; Gas diffusion electrode; PTFE; TPB; MEA; MPL; GDEs; Response surface methodology; GDL; EIS; HT-PEMFCs; PA; High-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells; PBI; Polytetrafluoroethylene concentration; DoE; IPA; Heat treatment temperature; Low platinum electrode
• ISSN: 1226-086X; 1876-794X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jiec.2022.02.007

[Display omitted] •Low-Pt anode is created to prevent phosphoric acid leakage & secure gas pathways.•The effect of two factors on anode performance is examined using RSM.•Pt loading of the optimized anode is 20 % of that of commercial electrodes.•RSM can be used for the optimization of electrodes with multiple variables. Optimizing the fabrication conditions of the catalyst layer in high-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells is important for improving the catalyst utilization of the electrode. In this study, the effects of the binder concentration and the heat treatment temperature on the performance of membrane electrode assembly are investigated as controlled variables for fabricating low platinum (Pt) anodes. Furthermore, the response surface methodology (RSM), which is a kind of the design of experiment method, is applied to elucidate the optimum conditions based on the statistical analysis. Polytetrafluoroethylene is used as a binder in the range of 17.1–32.2 wt.% to generate the hydrophobic surface in the heat treatment temperature range of 307–392℃. The optimum anode based on the conditions from the RSM results shows a voltage of 0.636 V at 0.2 A/cm2 with a Pt loading under 0.2 mg/cm2. These results indicate that RSM can be used to optimize fabrication conditions with multiple variables.