1
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Chen Y, Lin H, Huo J, Fang L, Zhang W, Ma T, Cui Z, Liang Z, Du L. Multi-scale revealing how real catalyst layer interfaces dominate the local oxygen transport resistance in ultra-low platinum PEMFC. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 671:344-353. [PMID: 38815371 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.05.136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2024] [Revised: 05/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
In view of a catalyst layer (CL) with low-Pt causing higher local transport resistance of O2 (Rlocal), we propose a multi-study methodology that combines CO poisoning, the limiting current density method, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy to reveal how real CL interfaces dominate Rlocal. Experimental results indicate that the ionomer is not evenly distributed on the catalyst surface, and the uniformity of ionomer distribution does not show a positive correlation with the ionomer content. When the ionomer coverage on the supported catalyst surface is below 20 %, the ECSA is only 10 m2·g-1, and the ionomer coverage on the supported catalyst surface reaches 60 %, the ECSA is close to 40 m2·g-1. The ECSA has a positive correlation with ionomer coverage. Because the ECSA is measured by CO poisoning, it can be inferred that the platinum contacted with ionomer can generate effective active sites. Furthermore, a more uniform distribution of ionomer can create additional proton transport channels and reduce the distance for oxygen transport from the catalyst layer bulk to the active sites. A higher ECSA and a shorter distance for oxygen transport will reduce the Rlocal, leading to better performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangyang Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fuel Cell Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China; School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Hao Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fuel Cell Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Junlang Huo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fuel Cell Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Lin Fang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fuel Cell Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Weifeng Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fuel Cell Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Tongmei Ma
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fuel Cell Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Zhiming Cui
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fuel Cell Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Zhenxing Liang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fuel Cell Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China; Guangdong Provincial Laboratory of Chemistry and Fine Chemical Engineering Jieyang Center, Jieyang 515200, China
| | - Li Du
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fuel Cell Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China; Guangdong Provincial Laboratory of Chemistry and Fine Chemical Engineering Jieyang Center, Jieyang 515200, China; School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China.
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Cheng X, Zhou J, Luo L, Shen S, Zhang J. Boosting Bulk Oxygen Transport with Accessible Electrode Nanostructure in Low Pt Loading PEMFCs. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2308563. [PMID: 38342709 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202308563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
Despite the high potential for reducing carbon emissions and contributing to the future of energy utilization, polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) face challenges such as high costs and sluggish oxygen transport in cathode catalyst layers (CCLs). In this study, the impact of pore size distribution on bulk oxygen transport behavior is explored by introducing nano calcium carbonate of varying particle sizes for pore-forming. Physicochemical characterizations for are employed to examine the electrode structure, while in situ electrochemical measurements are used to scrutinize bulk oxygen transport resistance, effective oxygen diffusivity (D O 2 eff $D_{{{\mathrm{O}}}_2}^{{\mathrm{eff}}}$ ) and fuel cell performance. Additionally, the CCLs are constructed with aid of Lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) simulations andD O 2 eff $D_{{{\mathrm{O}}}_2}^{{\mathrm{eff}}}$ for CCLs with different pore size distribution are calculated. The findings reveal thatD O 2 eff $D_{{{\mathrm{O}}}_2}^{{\mathrm{eff}}}$ initially increases and then decreases as the most probable pore size increases. A "sphere-pipe" model is proposed to describe practical bulk oxygen transport in CCLs, highlighting the significant role of not only the pore size of secondary pores but also the number of primary pores in bulk oxygen transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojing Cheng
- Institute of Fuel Cells, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Jinghao Zhou
- SJTU Paris Elite Institute of Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Liuxuan Luo
- Institute of Fuel Cells, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Shuiyun Shen
- Institute of Fuel Cells, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Junliang Zhang
- Institute of Fuel Cells, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Power & Machinery Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
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3
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Li H, You J, Cheng X, Luo L, Yan X, Yin J, Shen S, Zhang J. Unraveling the Effects of Carbon Corrosion on Oxygen Transport Resistance in Low Pt Loading Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:540-554. [PMID: 38156977 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c13450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Cost and durability have become crucial hurdles for the commercialization of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Although a continuous reduction of Pt loading within the cathode catalyst layers (CCLs) can lead to cost savings, it also increases the oxygen transport resistance, which is further compounded by key material degradation. Hence, a further understanding of the mechanism of significant performance loss due to oxygen transport limitations at the triple phase boundaries (TPBs) during the degradation process is critical to the development of low Pt loading PEMFCs. The present study systematically investigates the impact of carbon corrosion in CCLs on the performance and oxygen transport process of low Pt loading PEMFCs through accelerated stress tests (ASTs) that simulate start-up/shutdown cycling. A decline in peak power density from 484.3 to 251.6 mW cm-2 after 1500 AST cycles demonstrates an apparent performance loss, especially at high current densities. The bulk and local oxygen transport resistances (rbulk and Rlocal) of the pristine cell and after 200, 600, 1000, and 1500 AST cycles are quantified by combining the limiting current method with a dual-layer CCL design. The results show that rbulk increased from 1527 to 1679 s cm-2, Rlocal increased from 0.38 to 0.99 s cm-1, and the local oxygen transport resistance with the normalized Pt surface area (rlocal) exhibited an increase from 18.5 to 32.0 s cm-1, indicating a crucial impact on the structure collapse and changes in the chemical properties of the carbon supports in the CCLs. Further, the interaction between the ionomer and carbon supports during the carbon corrosion process is deeply studied via electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance and molecular dynamics simulations. It is concluded that the oxygen-containing functional groups on the carbon surface could impede the adsorption of ionomers on carbon supports by creating an excessively water-rich layer, which in turn aggravates the formation of ionomer agglomerations within the CCLs. This process ultimately leads to the destruction of the TPBs and hinders the transport of oxygen through the ionomer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiyuan Li
- Institute of Fuel Cells, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Jiabin You
- Institute of Fuel Cells, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Xiaojing Cheng
- Institute of Fuel Cells, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Liuxuan Luo
- Institute of Fuel Cells, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiaohui Yan
- Institute of Fuel Cells, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Jiewei Yin
- Institute of Fuel Cells, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Shuiyun Shen
- Institute of Fuel Cells, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Junliang Zhang
- Institute of Fuel Cells, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Power & Machinery Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
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4
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You J, Zheng Z, Cheng X, Li H, Fu C, Luo L, Wei G, Shen S, Yan X, Zhang J. Insight into Oxygen Transport in Solid and High-Surface-Area Carbon Supports of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:21457-21466. [PMID: 37070714 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c01631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the oxygen transport mechanism through an ionomer film that covered the catalyst surface is essential for reducing local oxygen transport resistance and improving the low Pt-loading proton exchange membrane fuel cell performance. Besides the ionomer material, the carbon supports, upon which ionomers and catalyst particles are dispersed, also play a crucial role in local oxygen transport. Increasing attention has been paid to the effects of carbon supports on local transport, but the detailed mechanism is still unclear. Herein, the local oxygen transports based on conventional solid carbon (SC) and high-surface-area carbon (HSC) supports are investigated by molecular dynamics simulations. It is found that oxygen diffuses through the ionomer film that covered the SC supports via "effective diffusion" and "ineffective diffusion". The former denotes the process by which oxygen diffuses directly from the ionomer surface to the Pt upper surface through small and concentrated regions. In contrast, ineffective diffusion suffers more restrictions by both carbon- and Pt-dense layers, and thus, the oxygen pathways are long and tortuous. The HSC supports exhibit larger transport resistance relative to SC supports due to the existence of micropores. Also, the major transport resistance originates from the carbon-dense layer as it inhibits oxygen from diffusing downward and migrating toward the pore opening, while the oxygen transport inside the pore is facile along the pore's inner surface, which leads to a specific and short diffusion pathway. This work provides insight into oxygen transport behavior with SC and HSC supports, which is the basis for the development of high-performance electrodes with low local transport resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiabin You
- Institute of Fuel Cells, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Zhifeng Zheng
- Institute of Fuel Cells, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Xiaojing Cheng
- Institute of Fuel Cells, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Huiyuan Li
- Institute of Fuel Cells, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Cehuang Fu
- Institute of Fuel Cells, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Liuxuan Luo
- Institute of Fuel Cells, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Guanghua Wei
- SJTU-Paris Tech Elite Institute of Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Shuiyun Shen
- Institute of Fuel Cells, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Xiaohui Yan
- Institute of Fuel Cells, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Junliang Zhang
- Institute of Fuel Cells, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Power & Machinery Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
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5
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Zhang Z, Xia Z, Huang J, Jing F, Zhang X, Li H, Wang S, Sun G. Uneven phosphoric acid interfaces with enhanced electrochemical performance for high-temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cells. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eade1194. [PMID: 36696498 PMCID: PMC9876549 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ade1194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Ultrahigh mass transport resistance and excessive coverage of the active sites introduced by phosphoric acid (PA) are among the major obstacles that limit the performance of high-temperature polymer fuel cells, especially compared to their low-temperature counterparts. Here, an alternative strategy of electrode design with fibrous networks is developed to optimize the redistribution of acid within the electrode. Via structural tailoring with varied electrospinning parameters, uneven migration of PA with dispersed droplets is observed, subverting the immersion model of conventional porous electrode. Combining with experimental and calculation results, the microscaled uneven PA interfaces could not only provide extra diffusion pathways for oxygen but also minimize the thickness of PA layers. This electrode architecture demonstrates enhanced electrochemical performance of oxygen reduction within the PA phase, resulting in a 28% enhancement of the maximum power density for the optimally designed electrode as cathode compared to that of a conventional one.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zinan Zhang
- Division of Fuel Cell and Battery, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Key Laboratory of Fuel Cell and Hybrid Power Sources, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Zhangxun Xia
- Division of Fuel Cell and Battery, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
- Key Laboratory of Fuel Cell and Hybrid Power Sources, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Jicai Huang
- Division of Fuel Cell and Battery, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
- Key Laboratory of Fuel Cell and Hybrid Power Sources, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Fenning Jing
- Division of Fuel Cell and Battery, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
- Key Laboratory of Fuel Cell and Hybrid Power Sources, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Xiaoming Zhang
- Division of Fuel Cell and Battery, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
- Key Laboratory of Fuel Cell and Hybrid Power Sources, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Huanqiao Li
- Division of Fuel Cell and Battery, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
- Key Laboratory of Fuel Cell and Hybrid Power Sources, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Suli Wang
- Division of Fuel Cell and Battery, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
- Key Laboratory of Fuel Cell and Hybrid Power Sources, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Gongquan Sun
- Division of Fuel Cell and Battery, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
- Key Laboratory of Fuel Cell and Hybrid Power Sources, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
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6
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Wen Z, Wu D, Banham D, Chen M, Sun F, Zhao Z, Jin Y, Fan L, Xu S, Gu M, Fan J, Li H. Micromodification of the Catalyst Layer by CO to Increase Pt Utilization for Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:903-913. [PMID: 36542539 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c16524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Improving the utilization of platinum in proton-exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells is critical to reducing their cost. In the past decade, numerous Pt-based oxygen reduction reaction catalysts with high specific and mass activities have been developed. However, the high activities are mostly achieved in rotating disk electrode (RDE) measurement and have rarely been accomplished at the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) level. The failure of these direct translations from RDE to MEA has been well documented with several key reasons having been previously identified. One of them is the resistance caused by complex mass transport pathways in the MEA. Herein, we improve the proton and oxygen transportations in the MEA by building a thin and uniform distribution of ionomer on the catalyst surface. As a result, a PEM fuel cell design is capable of showing a current density improvement of 38% at the same voltage (0.6 V) under the H2/air operation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zengyin Wen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen518055, China
| | - Duojie Wu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen518055, China
| | - Dustin Banham
- School of Materials Science and Hydrogen Energy, Foshan University, Foshan528000, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Hydrogen Energy Technologies, Foshan528000, China
- Guangdong TaiJi Power, No. 25 Xingliang Road, Hecheng Street, Foshan528000, China
| | - Ming Chen
- Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen518055, China
| | - Fengman Sun
- Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin150001, China
| | - Zhiliang Zhao
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen518055, China
| | - Yiqi Jin
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen518055, China
| | - Li Fan
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen518055, China
| | - Shaoyi Xu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen518055, China
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Meng Gu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen518055, China
| | - Jiantao Fan
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen518055, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Energy Materials for Electric Power, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen518055, China
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen518055, China
- Key University Laboratory of Highly Efficient Utilization of Solar Energy and Sustainable Development, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen518055, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Hydrogen Energy, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen518055, China
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You J, Cheng X, Li H, Yin J, Yan X, Wei G, Shen S, Zhang J. Innovative Insight into O 2/N 2 Permeation Behavior through an Ionomer Film in Cathode Catalyst Layers of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells. J Phys Chem Lett 2022; 13:11444-11453. [PMID: 36468972 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.2c03210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
It is crucial to clarify the permeation behavior of O2 through the ionomer film for enhancing local O2 transport in cathodes of fuel cells. However, all existing studies mainly deal with pure O2 rather than air. Herein, the permeation behavior of the O2/N2 mixture through the ionomer film has been well explored in view of molecular bond length variations by molecular dynamics simulations. The bond lengths for O2 and N2 are shortened under a low hydration level when permeating through a dense layer with small free voids while no obvious change occurs at higher hydration. In the bulk ionomer region, O2 molecules residing in water domains are energetically unstable because the bond lengths deviate far from the equilibrium length; thus, O2 diffuses through the interfacial or hydrophobic regions. N2 molecules show similar properties with O2. This study provides a novel perspective on the permeation behavior of O2 and N2 through the ionomer film, which definitely benefits enhancing local O2 transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiabin You
- Institute of Fuel Cells, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200240Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaojing Cheng
- Institute of Fuel Cells, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200240Shanghai, China
| | - Huiyuan Li
- Institute of Fuel Cells, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200240Shanghai, China
| | - Jiewei Yin
- Institute of Fuel Cells, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200240Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaohui Yan
- Institute of Fuel Cells, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200240Shanghai, China
| | - Guanghua Wei
- SJTU-Paris Tech Elite Institute of Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200240Shanghai, China
| | - Shuiyun Shen
- Institute of Fuel Cells, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200240Shanghai, China
| | - Junliang Zhang
- Institute of Fuel Cells, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200240Shanghai, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Power & Machinery Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200240Shanghai, China
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8
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Zhang PY, Yang XH, Jiang QR, Cui PX, Zhou ZY, Sun SH, Wang YC, Sun SG. General Carbon-Supporting Strategy to Boost the Oxygen Reduction Activity of Zeolitic-Imidazolate-Framework-Derived Fe/N/Carbon Catalysts in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:30724-30734. [PMID: 35766357 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c04786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity of the Fe/N/Carbon catalysts derived from the pyrolysis of zeolitic-imidazolate-framework-8 (ZIF-8) has been still lower than that of commercial Pt-based catalysts utilized in the proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) due to low density of accessible active sites. In this study, an efficient carbon-supporting strategy is developed to enhance the ORR efficiency of the ZIF-derived Fe/N/Carbon catalysts by increasing the accessible active site density. The enhancement lies in (i) improving the accessibility of active sites via converting dodecahedral particles to graphene-like layered materials and (ii) enhancing the density of FeNx active sites via suppressing the formation of nanoparticles as well as providing extra spaces to host active sites. The optimized and efficient Fe/N/Carbon catalyst shows a half-wave potential (E1/2) of 0.834 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode in acidic media and produces a peak power density of 0.66 W cm-2 in an air-fed PEMFC at 2 bar backpressure, outperforming most previously reported Pt-free ORR catalysts. Finally, the general applicability of the carbon-supporting strategy is confirmed using five different commercial carbon blacks. This work provides an effective route to derive Fe/N/Carbon catalysts exhibiting a higher power density in PEMFCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng-Yang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Xiao-Hua Yang
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS)-Center Énergie Matériaux et Télécommunications, Varennes, Quebec J3X 1P7, Canada
- Institute of Quantum and Sustainable Technology (IQST), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Qiao-Rong Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Pei-Xin Cui
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Zhi-You Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Shu-Hui Sun
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS)-Center Énergie Matériaux et Télécommunications, Varennes, Quebec J3X 1P7, Canada
| | - Yu-Cheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Shi-Gang Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
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9
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Wang X, Wang J, Yang S, Guan J, Zhang Z, Wang F. Ultraviolet-Induced Bi-gradient Gas Diffusion Electrode for High-Performance Fuel Cells. Ind Eng Chem Res 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.1c04957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xinliang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Electrochemical Process and Technology for Materials, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
| | - Junxiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Electrochemical Process and Technology for Materials, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
| | - Shaoxuan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Electrochemical Process and Technology for Materials, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
| | - Jingyu Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Electrochemical Process and Technology for Materials, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
| | - Zhengping Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Electrochemical Process and Technology for Materials, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
| | - Feng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Electrochemical Process and Technology for Materials, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
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10
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Hao M, Li Y, He Y. 质子交换膜燃料电池催化层模型研究进展与展望. CHINESE SCIENCE BULLETIN-CHINESE 2022. [DOI: 10.1360/tb-2022-0002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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11
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Fan L, Wang Y, Jiao K. Enhancing oxygen transport in the ionomer film on platinum catalyst using ionic liquid additives. FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 2:230-236. [PMID: 38933169 PMCID: PMC11197526 DOI: 10.1016/j.fmre.2021.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The O2 permeation barrier across the nanoscale ionomer films on electrocatalysts contributes to a major performance loss of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells under low Pt loading. Enhancing O2 transport through the ionomer films is essential for developing low Pt loading catalyst materials in high-performance PEM fuel cells. This study found that adding an ionic liquid (IL) can effectively mitigate the dense ionomer ultrathin sublayer formed on the Pt surface, which severely hinders O2 transport to the catalyst sites. The molecular dynamics simulation results show that adding the IL significantly alters the ionomer ultrathin sublayer structure by inhibiting its tight arrangement of perfluorosulfonic acid chains but scarcely impacts the ultrathin sublayer thickness. Additionally, the IL addition provides a larger free space for O2 dissolution in the ultrathin sublayer. Consequently, due to IL molecules' presence, the O2 density in the ultrathin sublayer on the Pt surface is improved by an order of magnitude, which will benefit the catalytic efficiency, and the O2 permeation flux across the ionomer film is increased by up to 8 times, which will reduce the O2 transport loss of the catalyst layer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linhao Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Engines, Tianjin University, 135 Yaguan Road, Tianjin 300350, China
- Renewable Energy Resources Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697-3975, USA
| | - Yun Wang
- Renewable Energy Resources Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697-3975, USA
| | - Kui Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Engines, Tianjin University, 135 Yaguan Road, Tianjin 300350, China
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Wang J, Wu G, Xuan W, Peng L, Feng Y, Ding W, Li L, Liao Q, Wei Z. A framework ensemble facilitates high Pt utilization in a low Pt loading fuel cell. Catal Sci Technol 2021. [DOI: 10.1039/d1cy00028d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Rationally designing the structure of catalyst layer in MEA to achieve the dispersion of active sites at the cross of three-phase field and the effective transfer network paths for protons through catalysts and catalyst layer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Wang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Chemical Process for Clean Energy and Resource Utilization
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Chongqing University
- Chongqing
- China
| | - Guangping Wu
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Chemical Process for Clean Energy and Resource Utilization
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Chongqing University
- Chongqing
- China
| | - Wenhui Xuan
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Chemical Process for Clean Energy and Resource Utilization
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Chongqing University
- Chongqing
- China
| | - Lishan Peng
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Chemical Process for Clean Energy and Resource Utilization
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Chongqing University
- Chongqing
- China
| | - Yong Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Chemical Power Sources
- Guizhou Meiling Power Sources Co. Ltd
- Zunyi
- China
| | - Wei Ding
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Chemical Process for Clean Energy and Resource Utilization
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Chongqing University
- Chongqing
- China
| | - Li Li
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Chemical Process for Clean Energy and Resource Utilization
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Chongqing University
- Chongqing
- China
| | - Qiang Liao
- Institute of Engineering Thermophysics
- Chongqing University
- Chongqing
- China
| | - Zidong Wei
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Chemical Process for Clean Energy and Resource Utilization
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Chongqing University
- Chongqing
- China
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Fan L, Wang Y, Jiao K. Oxygen Transport Routes in Ionomer Film on Polyhedral Platinum Nanoparticles. ACS NANO 2020; 14:17487-17495. [PMID: 33306905 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c07856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the O2 permeation phenomenon in the ionomer thin film on platinum (Pt) nanoparticles is vital to improve the electrocatalyst performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells at a low Pt loading. In this study, the ionomer film structure, O2 density distribution, transport fluxes, and permeation routes are investigated for carbon-supported polyhedral Pt nanoparticles (cube and tetrahedron) in the facet, edge, and corner regions. The molecular dynamic simulation takes into account the molecular interactions among the ionomer, Pt nanoparticles, carbon support, and O2 molecules. The results show that a dense ionomer ultrathin layer with a tight arrangement of perfluorosulfonic acid is present on the Pt facets (namely region A). In the ionomer near the Pt edges and corners (namely region B), the structure is less dense due to the weaker Pt attraction, resulting in a higher O2 density than that in region A. O2 fluxes in the different regions show that approximately 90% of O2 molecules reach the Pt cube and tetrahedron nanoparticles via their upper corner and edge regions. In the vicinity of Pt nanoparticles, O2 permeation routes are inferred to penetrating region B to the Pt upper corners or edges instead of region A to the Pt facets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linhao Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Engines, Tianjin University, 135 Yaguan Road, Tianjin 300350, China
- Renewable Energy Resources Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-4075, United States
| | - Yun Wang
- Renewable Energy Resources Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-4075, United States
| | - Kui Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Engines, Tianjin University, 135 Yaguan Road, Tianjin 300350, China
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The Impact of Reaction on the Effective Properties of Multiscale Catalytic Porous Media: A Case of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells. Transp Porous Media 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s11242-019-01252-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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