Optimization of Mass Transport within Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cell Catalyst Layer via Pore Formers. (8th September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lam, Steven; Bixby, Meghan Marie; Rice, Cynthia A.
• Is Part Of: ECS transactions. Volume 98:Number 9(2020)
• Page Start: 355
• Page End: 363
• Publication Date: 2020-09-08
• Subjects: Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; Electrochemistry; Periodicals; Electronic journals; Electronic journal; 541.37
• DOI: 10.1149/09809.0355ecst
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1938-5862

Abstract

Abstract : Direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFC) offer a potentially sustainable alternative to the batteries in portable devices due to their higher charge capacity, higher efficiency, and smaller size. However, due to the two-phase flow in the anode catalyst layer and the small pore size between agglomerates in the catalyst layer (~20 nm), mass transport limitations plague the performance of the DFAFC. To maximize the performance, the two-phase transport of the reactant (formic acid, liquid) and the product (carbon dioxide, gas) must be optimized. By incorporating 15 and 25 wt% MgO, the electrochemical surface area (ECSA) of the catalyst layer increased from 21.8 cm 2 g -1 to 62.7 and 85.8 cm 2 g -1, respectively. Furthermore, at higher potentials the porous catalyst layers improved cell performance by 86%. These improvements in ECSA and cell performance are possibly due to an enhancement of the triple-phase boundary.