Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Flooding Caused by Residual Functional Groups after Platinum Atomic Layer Deposition

By Lubers, Alia M.; McNeary, William W.; Ludlow, Daryl J.; Drake, Austin W.; Faust, Matthias; Maguire, Megan E.; Kodas, Maila U.; Seipenbusch, Martin; Weimer, Alan W.
Published in Electrochimica Acta NULL 2017

Abstract

Abstract Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) catalysts manufactured using atomic layer deposition (ALD) on unmodified and functionalized carbon were compared to a commercial catalyst in half- and whole-cell tests. Half-cell tests showed the {ALD} catalyst performed better or comparable to a commercial catalyst. Conversely, whole-cell tests revealed flooding in the {ALD} catalyst produced on functionalized carbon. Residual functional groups had reduced the hydrophobicity, and rendered this catalyst impractical for use in whole-cell {PEMFC} applications. However, the {ALD} catalyst produced on unmodified carbon performed better than the commercial catalyst, which illustrates the power of {ALD} on appropriate catalyst supports.

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