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Fuel cell performance improvement via the steric effect of a hydrocarbon-based binder for cathode in proton exchange membrane fuel cells

In this study, a sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) having cardo-type fluorenyl groups (FL-SPES) was investigated as a cathodic binder to improve fuel cell performance via increased the oxygen diffusion in the cathode. The maximum power density achieved by using the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) pre...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Cha, Jung-Eun, Cho, Won Jae, Hwang, Jeemin, Seo, Dong-Jun, Choi, Young-Woo, Kim, Won Bae
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Nature Publishing Group UK 2022
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9386007/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35978021
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-18464-6
Descripción
Sumario:In this study, a sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) having cardo-type fluorenyl groups (FL-SPES) was investigated as a cathodic binder to improve fuel cell performance via increased the oxygen diffusion in the cathode. The maximum power density achieved by using the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) prepared with FL-SPES with a low ion exchange capacity (IEC) of 1.31 meq g(–1) was 520 mW cm(–2), which is more than twice as high as that of BP-SPES (210 mW cm(–2)) having typical biphenyl groups with a similar IEC. At high IEC of 1.55 meq g(–1), the power density obtained by using BP-SPES was improved to 454 mW cm(–2) but remained lower than that of FL-SPES. In addition, although the IEC, swelling degree, and specific resistance were similar to each other, the gas permeability of FL-SPES was improved by approximately three times compared to that of BP-SPES. The steric structure of cardo-type FL-SPES increased the free volume between the polymer backbones, leading to an increase in gas transfer. Consequently, oxygen diffusion was promoted at the cathode, resulting in improved fuel cell performance.