Ionic liquid modified Pt/C electrocatalysts for cathode application in proton exchange membrane fuel cells

doi:10.1007/s11705-019-1838-8

Front. Chem. Sci. Eng.

2019, Vol. 13

Issue (4) : 695-701 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11705-019-1838-8

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Ionic liquid modified Pt/C electrocatalysts for cathode application in proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Huixin Zhang^1,², Jinying Liang¹, Bangwang Xia², Yang Li¹, Shangfeng Du¹(

)

¹. School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
². School of Chemical Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China

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Abstract

The modification of Pt/C catalyst by using ionic liquids to improve their catalyst activities has been reported by many researchers, but their practical behavior in operating fuel cells is still unknown. In this work, we study the ionic liquid modified Pt/C nanoparticle catalysts within cathodes for proton exchange membrane fuel cells. The influence of the ionic liquid amount, adsorption times and dispersing solvents are investigated. The experiment results show the best performance enhancement is achieved through two-time surface modification with 2 wt-% ionic liquid solution. The mechanisms are explored with the attribution to the high oxygen solubility in the ionic liquid enabling an improved oxygen diffusion in micropores and to good hydrophobicity facilitating water expelling from the active sites in fuel cell operation.

Keywords ionic liquid PEMFC electrode oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalyst adsorption

Corresponding Author(s): Shangfeng Du

Just Accepted Date: 31 May 2019 Online First Date: 26 July 2019 Issue Date: 04 December 2019

Cite this article:

Huixin Zhang,Jinying Liang,Bangwang Xia, et al. Ionic liquid modified Pt/C electrocatalysts for cathode application in proton exchange membrane fuel cells[J]. Front. Chem. Sci. Eng., 2019, 13(4): 695-701.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcse/EN/10.1007/s11705-019-1838-8
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcse/EN/Y2019/V13/I4/695

Fig.1 Surface SEM images of GDEs made from unmodified and IL modified Pt/C catalysts: (a) no IL, (b) 2% IL-2, (c) 5% IL-2 and (d) 10% IL-2. The IL percentage is defined by the mass ratio of the IL to the Pt/C catalyst in the surface modification process related to the IL concentration in the initial suspension, and-2 means the adsorption process was done for 2 times.

Fig.2 (a) XRD patterns for Pt/C@IL with different initials of [MTBD]NTf₂; (b) XPS spectra for Pt/C@IL with different initials of [MTBD]NTf₂.

Fig.3 (a) Polarization curves, (b) power density curves and (c) electrochemical impedance spectra under the operating voltage of 0.6 V of the MEAs fabricated from cathodes using Pt/C and Pt/C@IL catalysts.

Fig.4 (a) CVs, (b) original uncorrected and (c) corrected polarization curves in H₂/O₂ for PEMFCs with Pt/C and Pt/C@IL catalysts in cathodes. Test under oxygen was undertaken at 80°C with fully humidified gases at 1.5 bar (H₂/O₂ stoichiometric flows of s= 2/9.5). The resistance correction voltage was determined via EIS (evaluated at high frequency) vs. current density. Current densities were H₂ crossover corrected. (d) shows the mass activities at 0.9 V for all catalysts obtained by test in MEAs.

Fig.5 Polarization curves of PEMFCs with cathodic catalysts modified with 2% IL [MTBD][NTf₂] for 1, 2 and 3 times.

Fig.6 Comparison of (a) polarization curves, and (b) CVs for the PEMFCs with cathodic catalysts modified with IL [MTBD][NTf₂] dissolved in ethanol and IPA.

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