Improvement of Fuel Cell Performance by Application of Carbon Nanotubesijtes. (original) (raw)
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Carbon nanotube architectures as catalyst supports for proton exchange membrane fuel cells
Energy & Environmental Science, 2010
Catalyst support materials exhibit great influence on the performance and durability of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. This minireview article summarises recent developments into carbon nanotubebased support materials for PEM fuel cells, including the membrane electrode assembly (MEA). The advantages of using CNTs to promote catalyst performance and stability, a perspective on research directions and strategies to improve fuel cell performance and durability are discussed. It is hoped that this mini-review will act as a conduit for future developments in catalyst supports and MEA design for PEM fuel cells.
In this study, performance of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell was experimentally investigated. The efficiency of energy conversion in PEM fuel cells is dependent on the catalytic activities of the catalysts used in the cathode and anode of membrane electrode assemblies. Membrane is considered the heart of PEM fuel cells without which they cannot produce electricity. Coating on the anode side of the PEM fuel cell was accomplished with the electrospin method by using carbon nanotube (CNT). CNT show a unique combination of stiffness, strength, and tenacity compared to other fiber materials which usually lack one or more of these properties. In the experimental study, current, voltage and power performances before and after coating were recorded and then compared to each other. It was found that the efficiency of PEM fuel cell increases after the coating with CNT.
PEM fuel cell electrodes using Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes
MRS Proceedings, 2005
ABSTRACTSingle wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) have previously been considered potential catalyst supports in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) [1]. Earlier research and development of SWCNT for PEMFC catalyst supports has been advanced by utilizing differing SWCNT purities and carbon blacks in differing ratios. This study validates the performance of SWCNT and introduces new concepts for SWCNT membrane fabrication.
The purpose of this research is to improve the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) through two approaches. The first approach is to improve water management by using hydrophobic polymers i.e. fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) and polytetrafluoroetilene (PTFE) in the microporous layer (MPL). The second approach is to increase the conductivity properties of membrane electrode assembly (MEA) by using carbon nanotubes in MPL.The research results show that the utilization of 20%FEP in MPL gives better cell performance and durability up to 40 h than that of 20 wt.% PTFE because there is strong bonding between FEP and support layer, and it provides high hydrophobicity property inside the pore of carbon paper. The optimum composition of 50 wt.% MWCNT in MPL gives highest cell performance. The MPL with 50 wt.% SWCNT content gives lowest resistance in MPL which corresponds to an improvement of power density about 70% and 20% relative to, respectively, pure Vulcan and 50 wt.% MWCNT.
Performance Improvement of Fuel Cell using Platinum Functionalized Aligned Carbon Nanotubes
The short-term goal of this research was to improve the 'performance' of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), via development of aligned carbon nanotubes (ACNT) which provide certain catalytic advantages. PEMFCs are devices which can generate electricity using alternative green resources. The benchmark for improved performance includes better device endurance and decreased platinum (Pt) loading. The long-term goals are to: 1) provide guidelines for design of new materials; 2) promote nanocatalyst applications towards alternative energy; and 3) integrate several advanced instrumentation into nanocharacterization and fuel cell (FC) performance.
Chemically modified single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with varying degrees of functionalization were utilized for the fabrication of SWNT thin film catalyst support layers (CSLs) in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), which were suitable for benchmarking against the US DOE 2017 targets. Use of the optimum level of SWNT -COOH functionality allowed the construction of a prototype SWNT-based PEMFC with total Pt loading of 0.06 mg Pt /cm 2 -well below the value of 0.125 mg Pt /cm 2 set as the US DOE 2017 technical target for total Pt group metals (PGM) loading. This prototype PEMFC also approaches the technical target for the total Pt content per kW of power (,0.125 g PGM /kW) at cell potential 0.65 V: a value of 0.15 g Pt /kW was achieved at 806C/22 psig testing conditions, which was further reduced to 0.12 g Pt /kW at 35 psig back pressure.