In Situ Voltammetric Characterization of PEM Fuel Cell Catalyst Layers.

摘要

The Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel (PEMFC) consists of two electrodes, the anode and the cathode, separated by a polymer membrane electrolyte. Each of the electrodes is coated with a catalyst layer. The electrodes, catalyst and membrane together form the membrane electrode assembly (MEA). Hydrogen and oxygen from the air combine in the fuel cell to produce electricity electrochemically together with the main reaction product: water. The development of PEMFCs has included innovations to decrease the amount of platinum needed. One possibility is to use carbon supported platinum to increase the effective surface area of the catalyst. The method originates from Los Alamos National Laboratory (e.g. Wilson & Gottesfeld 1992). In the method developed the catalyst layer was formed spreading a slurry of soluted ionomer and carbon supported platinum on the membrane. The result is a porous layer consisting of catalyst and the ionomer on the membrane. In the work reported here the above mentioned method was used.