Inkjet Printed Double-Layered Cathodes for PEM Fuel Cells

Author(s)

Bezerra, Carlos Andre Gomes ^[1] ; Deiner, L. Jay ^[2] ; Tremiliosi-Filho, Germano ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Quim Sao Carlos, BR-13566590 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] CUNY, Dept Chem, NYC Coll Technol, Brooklyn, NY 11201 - USA

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Journal of the Electrochemical Society; v. 167, n. 12 JAN 9 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

In order to optimize the mass transport, catalyst utilization, and ohmic resistance of membrane electrolyte assemblies (MEAs) in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs), a series of low Pt-loading double-layered cathodes was fabricated through inkjet printing. The printed cathodes were designed such that the total Pt/C catalyst loading was 0.1 mg cm(-2)with X% of the catalyst printed on the carbon substrate and (100-X)% on the Nafion membrane (X = 100, 75, 50, 25, 0). Semi-empirical fits of fuel cell polarization curves show that voltage losses vary inversely with the percentage of material printed on the carbon substrate. Accordingly, the best fuel cell performance (2.0 A cm(-2)) was observed for the cell with 100% of the Pt/C deposited on the carbon substrate. Thus, for inkjet printed low Pt-loading cathodes, the double-layered structure show a performance intermediate between MEAs fabricated in the gas diffusion electrode (GDE) method, and MEAs fabricated with catalyst deposition solely on the Nafion membrane. This performance trend is unexpected when compared to double-layered cathodes created through conventional methods of catalyst deposition. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/16930-7 - Electrocatalysis V: electrocatalytic processes of chemical and electrical energy interconversion
• Grantee: Edson Antonio Ticianelli
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/08802-2 - Hierarchical structuring of Pd/TiO2 alcohol electrooxidation catalysts through reactive inkjet printing
• Grantee: Germano Tremiliosi Filho
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International