Cost-effective and durable Ru-sputtered Pt/C-based membrane–electrode assembly for passive direct methanol fuel cells

Wonyeop Jeong; Ikwhang Chang; Sangbong Ryu; Chunhua Zheng; Suk Won Cha; Taehyun Park

doi:10.1063/1.5120305

AIP Advances (Sep 2019)

Cost-effective and durable Ru-sputtered Pt/C-based membrane–electrode assembly for passive direct methanol fuel cells

Wonyeop Jeong,
Ikwhang Chang,
Sangbong Ryu,
Chunhua Zheng,
Suk Won Cha,
Taehyun Park

Affiliations

Wonyeop Jeong: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, South Korea
Ikwhang Chang: Department of Automotive Engineering, Wonkwang University, 460 Iksan-daero, Iksan, Jeonbuk 54538, Republic of Korea
Sangbong Ryu: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, South Korea
Chunhua Zheng: Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Shenzhen University Town, Shenzhen 518055, China
Suk Won Cha: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, South Korea
Taehyun Park: School of Mechanical Engineering, Soongsil University, 369 Sangdo-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06978, Republic of Korea

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5120305
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 9, no. 9
pp. 095016 – 095016-6

Abstract

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The present study demonstrates and evaluates the catalytic durability of ruthenium (Ru)-sputtered Pt/C-based membrane–electrode assembly (MEA) for passive direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Sputtering of Ru onto the Pt/C catalyst layer on the electrolyte membrane reduces the use of Ru by more than 80% compared with conventional Pt-Ru/C (50:50 wt.%)-based MEAs. The Ru-sputtered MEA exhibited a high catalytic durability even when a high concentration of methanol (4 M) was used as fuel. In addition to the marked improvement in the catalytic durability, an increased performance was observed with passive DMFCs using Ru-sputtered MEAs. The results of the present study suggest that the new MEA fabrication method based on Ru-sputtered Pt/C considerably enhanced both the performance and durability of the cell while reducing the cost involved in fabrication. Furthermore, this study suggests ways to expand conventional MEAs for hydrogen fuel cells to the level of DMFCs.

Published in AIP Advances

ISSN: 2158-3226 (Online)
Publisher: AIP Publishing LLC
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Science: Physics
Website: http://aipadvances.aip.org/

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