Microstructure Investigation of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Catalyst Layers Containing Perfluorosulfonated Ionomer

Maito Koga; Hidetoshi Matsumoto; Mitsunori Kunishima; Masatoshi Tokita; Hiroyasu Masunaga; Noboru Ohta; Akihisa Takeuchi; Junji Mizukado; Hidekazu Sugimori; Kazuhiko Shinohara; Suguru Uemura; Toshihiko Yoshida; Shuichiro Hirai

doi:10.3390/membranes11070466

Membranes (Jun 2021)

Microstructure Investigation of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Catalyst Layers Containing Perfluorosulfonated Ionomer

Maito Koga,
Hidetoshi Matsumoto,
Mitsunori Kunishima,
Masatoshi Tokita,
Hiroyasu Masunaga,
Noboru Ohta,
Akihisa Takeuchi,
Junji Mizukado,
Hidekazu Sugimori,
Kazuhiko Shinohara,
Suguru Uemura,
Toshihiko Yoshida,
Shuichiro Hirai

Affiliations

Maito Koga: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan
Hidetoshi Matsumoto: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan
Mitsunori Kunishima: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan
Masatoshi Tokita: Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan
Hiroyasu Masunaga: Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan
Noboru Ohta: Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan
Akihisa Takeuchi: Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan
Junji Mizukado: Research Institute for Sustainable Chemistry, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, Japan
Hidekazu Sugimori: Fuel Cell Cutting-Edge Research Center (FC-Cubic), Technology Research Association, AIST Tokyo Waterfront Main Building, 2-3-26 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0064, Japan
Kazuhiko Shinohara: Fuel Cell Cutting-Edge Research Center (FC-Cubic), Technology Research Association, AIST Tokyo Waterfront Main Building, 2-3-26 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0064, Japan
Suguru Uemura: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan
Toshihiko Yoshida: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan
Shuichiro Hirai: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes11070466
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 11, no. 7
p. 466

Abstract

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Perfluorosulfonated ionomers are the most successful ion-exchange membranes at an industrial scale. One recent, cutting-edge application of perfluorosulfonated ionomers is in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). In PEFCs, the ionomers are used as a component of the catalyst layer (CL) in addition to functioning as a proton-exchange membrane. In this study, the microstructures in the CLs of PEFCs were characterized by combined synchrotron X-ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses. The CL comprised a catalyst, a support, and an ionomer. Fractal dimensional analysis of the combined ultrasmall- and small-angle X-ray scattering profiles indicated that the carbon-black-supported Pt catalyst (Pt/CB) surface was covered with the ionomer in the CL. Anomalous X-ray scattering revealed that the Pt catalyst nanoparticles on the carbon surfaces were aggregated in the CLs. These findings are consistent with the ionomer/catalyst microstructures and ionomer coverage on the Pt/CB surface obtained from TEM observations.

Published in Membranes

ISSN: 2077-0375 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Technology: Chemical technology: Chemical engineering
Website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/membranes

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