Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society (전기화학회지)

The Korean Electrochemical Society (한국전기화학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Performance of Membrane Electrode Assembly for DMFC Prepared by Bar-Coating Method

Bar-Coating 방법으로 제조한 직접메탄올 연료전지 MEA의 성능

  • Published : 2008.02.28
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

The key component of a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is the membrane electrode assembly (MEA), which comprises a polymer electrolyte membrane and catalyst layers (anode and cathode electrode). Generally the catalyst layer is coated on the porous electrode supporter (e.g. carbon paper or cloth) using various coating methods such as brushing, decal transfer, spray coating and screen printing methods. However, these methods were disadvantageous in terms of the uniformity of catalyst layer thickness, catalyst loss, and coating time. In this work, we used bar-coating method which can prepare the catalyst layer with uniform thickness for MEA of DMFC. The surface and cross-section morphologies of the catalyst layers were observed by SEM. The performances and resistance of the MEAs were investigated through a single cell evaluation and impedance analyzer.

직접메탄올 연료전지 (DMFC)의 핵심 구성 요소 중에서 하나는 고분자 전해질막과 촉매층 (연료극과 공기극)으로 구성된 전해질/전극 접합체 (MEA)이다. 그중에서 촉매층은 브러싱법, 전시법, 스프레이 코팅법, 스크린 프린팅법과 같은 다양한 방법을 사용하여 carbon paper나 carbon cloth등과 같은 전극 지지체 위에 코팅한다. 그러나 이러한 촉매 코팅방법들은 전극 지지체 위에 촉매를 균일한 두께로 코팅하기 어렵고, 촉매의 손실이 많으며, 또한 코팅 시간이 많이 필요하다는 단점들이 있다. 본 연구에서는 DMFC용 MEA의 전극층을 바코팅 방법 (bar-coating method)을 사용하여 한 번에 원하는 양의 촉매가 코팅되도록 제조하였다. 이렇게 제조한 전극 촉매층 표면과 단면의 형태를 SEM을 사용하여 관찰하였다. 제조한 MEA의 성능과 저항은 단위전지와 임피던스 분석기를 사용하여 측정하였다.

Keywords

References

  1. B. R. Rauhe, Jr., F. R. McLarnon and E. J. Cairns, 'Direct Anodic Oxidation of Methanol on Supported Platinum/Ruthenium Catalyst in Aqueous Cesium Carbonate' J. Electrochem. Soc., 142, 1073 (1995) https://doi.org/10.1149/1.2044547
  2. D. H. Jung, S. H. Hong, D. H. Peck, R. H. Song, D. R. Shin and H. N. Kim, 'Development of two-layer electrode for direct methanol fuel cell' J. Korean Electrochem. Soc., 6(1), 68 (2003) https://doi.org/10.5229/JKES.2003.6.1.068
  3. Z. Wei, S. Wang, B. Yi, J. Liu, L. Chen, W. Zhou, W. Li and Q. Xin, 'Influence of electrode structure on the performance of a direct methanol fuel cell' J. Power Sources, 106, 364 (2002) https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-7753(01)01023-0
  4. C. Y. Chen, P. Yang, Y. S. Lee and K. F. Lin, 'Fabrication of electrocatalyst layers for direct methanol fuel cells' J. Power Sources, 141, 24 (2005) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2004.09.011
  5. K. Furukawa, K. Okajima and M. Sudoh, 'Structural control and impedance analysis of cathode for direct methanol fuel cell' J. Power Sources, 139, 9 (2005) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2004.06.058
  6. W. Vielstich, A. Lamm and H. A. Gasteiger (Eds.), "Handbook of fuel cells", 3, John Wiley & Sons, (2002)
  7. H. Tang, S. Wang, M. Pan, S. P. Jiang and Y. Ruan, 'Performance of direct methanol fuel cells prepared by hot-pressed MEA and catalyst-coated membrane (CCM)' Electrochimica Acta, 52, 3714 (2007) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2006.10.053
  8. X. Ren, P. Zelenay, S. Thomas, J. Davey and S. Gottesfeld, 'Recent advances in direct methanol fuel cells at Los Alamos National Laboratory' J. Power Sources, 86, 111 (2000) https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-7753(99)00407-3
  9. M. S. Wilson, J. A. Valerio and S. Gottesfeld, 'Low platinum loading electrodes for polymer electrolyte fuel cells fabricated using thermoplastic ionomers' Electrochimica Acta, 40, 355 (1995) https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-4686(94)00272-3
  10. J. Zhang, G. Yin, Z. Wang and Y. Shao, 'Effects of MEA preparation on the performance of a direct methanol fuel cell' J. Power Sources, 160, 1035 (2006) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2006.02.059
  11. T. V. Reshetenko, H. T. Kim, H. Lee, M. Jang and H. J. Kweon, 'Performance of a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) at low temperature: Cathode optimization' J. Power Sources, 160, 925 (2006) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2006.02.058
  12. Q. Mao, G. Sun, S. Wang, H. Sun, G. Wang, Y. Gao, A. Ye, Y. Tian and Q. Xin, 'Comparative studies of configurations and preparation methods for direct methanol fuel cell electrodes' Electrochimica Acta, 52, 6763 (2007) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2007.04.120
  13. C. A. Schiller, F. Richter, E. Glzow and N. Wagner, 'Relaxation impedance as a model for the deactivation mechanism of fuel cells due to carbon monoxide poisoning' Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 3, 2113 (2001) https://doi.org/10.1039/b007674k
  14. J. H. Kim, H. Y. Ha, I. H. Oh, S. A. Hong and H. I. Lee, 'Influence of the solvent in anode catalyst ink on the performance of a direct methanol fuel cell' J. Power Sources, 135, 29 (2004) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2004.03.058