Chemical durability of thin pore-filling membrane in open-circuit voltage hold test. (5th November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Oshiba, Yuhei; Kosaka, Megumu; Yamaguchi, Takeo
• Is Part Of: International journal of hydrogen energy. Volume 44:Number 54(2019)
• Page Start: 28996
• Page End: 29001
• Publication Date: 2019-11-05
• Subjects: Polymer electrolyte fuel cells -- Pore-filling membrane -- Chemical durability -- Open-circuit voltage hold test; EPMA electron probe microanalyzer -- E-SEM environmental scanning electron microscope -- EW equivalent weight -- FER fluoride ion emission rate -- MEA membrane-electrode assembly -- OCV open-circuit voltage -- PEFC polymer electrolyte fuel cell -- PFSA perfluorosulfonic acid -- RH relative humidity -- UHMWPE ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene; Hydrogen as fuel -- Periodicals; Hydrogène (Combustible) -- Périodiques; Hydrogen as fuel; Periodicals; 665.81
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2019.09.143
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-3199

Abstract

Abstract: Long-term chemical stability of proton exchange membranes in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) is an important issue for widespread commercialization. Here, we report on the chemical stability of a membrane-electrode assembly with a 7 μm thick pore-filling membrane (porous substrate filled with high ion exchange capacity perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) polymer) using an open-circuit voltage hold test. The very thin pore-filling membrane shows comparable chemical durability to Nafion 211. Interestingly, the pore-filling membrane shows a different degradation behavior from Nafion 211 due to the use of chemically and mechanically stable porous substrate, with no thickness change and little amounts of fluorine leakages are observed in the pore-filling membrane compared to membrane thinning and large amounts of fluorine leakage in Nafion 211. The thin pore-filling membrane shows promise for application in PEFCs, as it balances high fuel cell performance at high temperature and low relative humidity with high chemical durability. Highlights: Chemical durability of the thin pore-filling membrane was evaluated as MEA. The thin pore-filling membrane showed durability comparable to Nafion 211. Membrane thinning was not observed in pore-filling membrane contrary to Nafion 211. Little amounts of fluorine leakages were observed in the pore-filling membrane.