Optimisation of electrophoretic deposition parameters for gas diffusion electrodes in high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

• Published in: Journal of power sources Vol. 243; pp. 40 - 47
• Main Authors: Felix, Cecil, Jao, Ting-Chu, Pasupathi, Sivakumar, Pollet, Bruno G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.12.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Catalysts; Direct energy conversion and energy accumulation; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical power engineering; Electrochemical conversion: primary and secondary batteries, fuel cells; Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; Electrodes; Electrolytes; Electrophoretic deposition; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Fuel cells; Gas diffusion; Gas diffusion electrodes; High temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell; Membrane electrode assembly; Membranes; Platinum; Zeta potential; Membrane electrode assembly; Zeta potential; High temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell; Gas diffusion electrodes; Electrophoretic deposition; Polymer electrolytes; Polymer solid electrolyte; Electrokinetic potential; Gas electrode; High-temperature fuel cells; Proton exchange membrane fuel cells; Optimization
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2013.06.006

Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) method was used to fabricate gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) for high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (HT PEMFC). Parameters related to the catalyst suspension and the EPD process were studied. Optimum suspension conditions are obtained when the catalyst particles are coated with Nafion® ionomer and the pH is adjusted to an alkaline range of about 8–10. These suspensions yield good stability with sufficient conductivity to form highly porous catalyst layers on top of the gas diffusion layers (GDLs). GDEs were fabricated by applying various electric field strengths of which 100Vcm−1 yields the best membrane electrode assembly (MEA) performance. Compared to an MEA fabricated by the traditional hand sprayed (HS) method, the EPD MEA shows superior performance with a peak power increase of about 73% at similar platinum (Pt) loadings. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) analysis shows lower charge transfer resistance for the MEA fabricated via the EPD method compared to the HS MEA. The EPD GDE exhibits a greater total pore area (22.46m2g−1) compared to the HS GDE (13.43m2g−1) as well as better dispersion of the Pt particles within the catalyst layer (CL). •EPD was used for fabrication of GDEs for high temperature PEMFCs.•EPD GDEs show higher porosity and lower charge transfer resistance compared to hand sprayed GDEs.•EPD GDEs performed best when fabricated at 100Vcm−1.•MEA based on EPD GDEs showed up to 73% peak power increase over hand spray MEA.•Nafion ionomer was not suitable for high temperature PEMFC MEAs.