Interface-designed Membranes with Shape-controlled Patterns for High-performance Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells

Yukwon Jeon; Dong Jun Kim; Jong Kwan Koh; Yunseong Ji; Jong Hak Kim; Yong Gun Shul

doi:10.1038/srep16394

Interface-designed Membranes with Shape-controlled Patterns for High-performance Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells

Yukwon Jeon, Dong Jun Kim, Jong Kwan Koh, Yunseong Ji, Jong Hak Kim, Yong Gun Shul

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

47 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell is a promising zero-emission power generator for stationary/automotive applications. However, key issues, such as performance and costs, are still remained for an economical commercialization. Here, we fabricated a high-performance membrane electrode assembly (MEA) using an interfacial design based on well-arrayed micro-patterned membranes including circles, squares and hexagons with different sizes, which are produced by a facile elastomeric mold method. The best MEA performance is achieved using patterned Nafion membrane with a circle 2 μm in size, which exhibited a very high power density of 1906 mW/cm² at 75°C and Pt loading of 0.4 mg/cm² with 73% improvement compared to the commercial membrane. The improved performance are attributed to the decreased MEA resistances and increased surface area for higher Pt utilization of over 80%. From these enhanced properties, it is possible to operate at lower Pt loading of 0.2 mg/cm² with an outstanding performance of 1555 mW/cm² and even at air/low humidity operations.

Original language	English
Article number	16394
Journal	Scientific reports
Volume	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/srep16394
Publication status	Published - 2015 Nov 10

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We acknowledge the financial support from the “Human Resources Program in Energy Technology” of the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP), granted financial resource from the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy, Republic of Korea. (No. 20154010200810). This research was also supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) funded by the Korean government (MSIP) through the Active Polymer Center for Pattern Integration (2007-0056091).

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

General

Access to Document

10.1038/srep16394

Cite this

@article{b8aef62d141a46e1a152ab7ffcccf615,

title = "Interface-designed Membranes with Shape-controlled Patterns for High-performance Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells",

abstract = "Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell is a promising zero-emission power generator for stationary/automotive applications. However, key issues, such as performance and costs, are still remained for an economical commercialization. Here, we fabricated a high-performance membrane electrode assembly (MEA) using an interfacial design based on well-arrayed micro-patterned membranes including circles, squares and hexagons with different sizes, which are produced by a facile elastomeric mold method. The best MEA performance is achieved using patterned Nafion membrane with a circle 2 μm in size, which exhibited a very high power density of 1906 mW/cm2 at 75°C and Pt loading of 0.4 mg/cm2 with 73% improvement compared to the commercial membrane. The improved performance are attributed to the decreased MEA resistances and increased surface area for higher Pt utilization of over 80%. From these enhanced properties, it is possible to operate at lower Pt loading of 0.2 mg/cm2 with an outstanding performance of 1555 mW/cm2 and even at air/low humidity operations.",

author = "Yukwon Jeon and Kim, {Dong Jun} and Koh, {Jong Kwan} and Yunseong Ji and Kim, {Jong Hak} and Shul, {Yong Gun}",

note = "Funding Information: We acknowledge the financial support from the “Human Resources Program in Energy Technology” of the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP), granted financial resource from the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy, Republic of Korea. (No. 20154010200810). This research was also supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) funded by the Korean government (MSIP) through the Active Polymer Center for Pattern Integration (2007-0056091).",

year = "2015",

month = nov,

day = "10",

doi = "10.1038/srep16394",

language = "English",

volume = "5",

journal = "Scientific reports",

issn = "2045-2322",

publisher = "Nature Publishing Group",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Interface-designed Membranes with Shape-controlled Patterns for High-performance Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells

AU - Jeon, Yukwon

AU - Kim, Dong Jun

AU - Koh, Jong Kwan

AU - Ji, Yunseong

AU - Kim, Jong Hak

AU - Shul, Yong Gun

N1 - Funding Information: We acknowledge the financial support from the “Human Resources Program in Energy Technology” of the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP), granted financial resource from the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy, Republic of Korea. (No. 20154010200810). This research was also supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) funded by the Korean government (MSIP) through the Active Polymer Center for Pattern Integration (2007-0056091).

PY - 2015/11/10

Y1 - 2015/11/10

N2 - Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell is a promising zero-emission power generator for stationary/automotive applications. However, key issues, such as performance and costs, are still remained for an economical commercialization. Here, we fabricated a high-performance membrane electrode assembly (MEA) using an interfacial design based on well-arrayed micro-patterned membranes including circles, squares and hexagons with different sizes, which are produced by a facile elastomeric mold method. The best MEA performance is achieved using patterned Nafion membrane with a circle 2 μm in size, which exhibited a very high power density of 1906 mW/cm2 at 75°C and Pt loading of 0.4 mg/cm2 with 73% improvement compared to the commercial membrane. The improved performance are attributed to the decreased MEA resistances and increased surface area for higher Pt utilization of over 80%. From these enhanced properties, it is possible to operate at lower Pt loading of 0.2 mg/cm2 with an outstanding performance of 1555 mW/cm2 and even at air/low humidity operations.

AB - Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell is a promising zero-emission power generator for stationary/automotive applications. However, key issues, such as performance and costs, are still remained for an economical commercialization. Here, we fabricated a high-performance membrane electrode assembly (MEA) using an interfacial design based on well-arrayed micro-patterned membranes including circles, squares and hexagons with different sizes, which are produced by a facile elastomeric mold method. The best MEA performance is achieved using patterned Nafion membrane with a circle 2 μm in size, which exhibited a very high power density of 1906 mW/cm2 at 75°C and Pt loading of 0.4 mg/cm2 with 73% improvement compared to the commercial membrane. The improved performance are attributed to the decreased MEA resistances and increased surface area for higher Pt utilization of over 80%. From these enhanced properties, it is possible to operate at lower Pt loading of 0.2 mg/cm2 with an outstanding performance of 1555 mW/cm2 and even at air/low humidity operations.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84946722127&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84946722127&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1038/srep16394

DO - 10.1038/srep16394

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84946722127

SN - 2045-2322

VL - 5

JO - Scientific reports

JF - Scientific reports

M1 - 16394

ER -

Interface-designed Membranes with Shape-controlled Patterns for High-performance Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells

Abstract

Bibliographical note

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this