RECENT PROGRESS IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE FUEL CELLS (PEMFC) AT CESHR

摘要

There is two general ways to increase specific power and power density of PEMFC stacks: (i) to achieve less weight and volume of stack by using of light weight and low volume stack components and (ii) to find high active electrocatalysts, especially for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) Recently many authors published results on replacement of heavy and expensive graphite as a material for stack bipolar plates with different lighter and less expensive substitutes as conductive plastics stainless steel and titanium in form of dense metal or coarse mesh, etc. One of most promising materials for replacement of graphite bipolar plates seems to be high porous, lightweight and corrosion resistive metals called "foams" in combination with thin foil of the same metal for gas separation. In spite of graphite replacement, practically there are no recent publications in the area of research and development of high active catalysts for ORR. More of people working in PEMFC area use during the years very good, consistent and commercially available platinum supported catalysts from E-TEK and Johnson & Matthey, but these companies still don't offer some improved versions of their production. The aim of this work is to present the recent results on PEMFC research and development obtained during last two years at CESHR, Texas A & M University. These results are related to development of an integrated gas diffusion electrode/gas flow field unit based on high porous metal foams, as well as performance improvement of MEA by using of new type high active platinum supported catalysts.