The electrochemical properties of sulfonated silica ceramic carbon electrodes operated in fuel cells above 80 °C

• Published in: Electrochimica acta Vol. 334; p. 135570
• Main Authors: Acheampong, Richard, Alipour Moghadam Esfahani, Reza, Moghaddam, Reza B., Afsahi, Foroughazam, Ebralidze, Iraklii I., Easton, E. Bradley
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 20-02-2020; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Accelerated tests; Automobile industry; Carbon; Cathodes; Cell temperature; Durability; Electrochemical analysis; Electrodes; Fuel cells; Heat exchange; Nafion-based electrode; Oxygen reduction reactions; Proton exchange membrane fuel cell; Proton exchange membrane fuel cells; Reaction kinetics; Silicon dioxide; Sulfonated silica-ceramic carbon electrode; Viability; Water management; Cell temperature; Durability; Proton exchange membrane fuel cell; Sulfonated silica-ceramic carbon electrode; Nafion-based electrode
• ISSN: 0013-4686; 1873-3859
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2019.135570

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell operated at temperatures above 80 °C provides many benefits including enhance oxygen reduction reaction kinetics, water management and effective heat removal. However, the state-of-the-art Nafion-based electrode (NBE) employed in this device is susceptible to performance loss due to poor hydration and electrode deterioration. These issues offset the benefits of operating the PEM fuel cell at higher temperatures. A sulfonated silica-ceramic carbon electrode (SS-CCE) has been synthesized and tested using various electrochemical tools to assess their viability for cell temperatures ranging from 70 °C to 95 °C. It was found that the SS-CCE cathode catalyst layer maintained stable performance above 80 °C while the NBE cathode declined in performance. In addition, after an accelerated stress test, we observed 15% performance loss for the SS-CCE cathode compared to 40% of the NBE cathode.
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•Sulfonated silica ceramic carbon electrode (SS-CCE) tested between 75 & 95 °C.•A conventional Nafion-based electrode (NBE) also tested under same conditions.•Fuel cell performance of SS-CCE improves at temperatures above 90 °C.•Fuel cell performance of NBE cathode declines sharply above 85 °C due to dehydration.•Impedance studies show SS-CCE maintains hydration better at elevated temperatures.