• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.65-73
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• 2012

The Gas Diffusion Layer (GDL) of fuel cell, are required to provide both delivery of reactant gases to the catalyst layer and removal of water in either vapor or liquid form in typical PEMFCs. In this study, the fabrication of GDL containing Micro Porous Layer (MPL) made of the slurry of PVDF mixed with carbon black is investigated in detail. Physical properties of GDL containing MPL, such as electrical resistance, gas permeability and microstructure were examined, and the performance of the cell using developed GDL with MPL was evaluated. The results show that MPL with PVDF binder demonstrated uniformly distributed microstructure without large cracks and pores, which resulted in better electrical conductivity. The fuel cell performance test demonstrates that the developed GDL with MPL has a great potential due to enhanced mass transport property due to its porous structure and small pore size.

• Proceedings of the Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute Conference
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• 2006.09a
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• pp.487-488
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• 2006

Novel bisphenol-based wholly aromatic poly(ether sulfone-ketone) copolymer containing pendant sulfonate groups were prepared by direct aromatic nucleophilic substitution polycondensation of 4,4-difluorobenzophenone, 2,2'-disodiumsulfonyl-4,4'-fluorophenylsulfone (40mole% of bisphenol A) and bisphenol A. Polymerization proceeded quantitatively to high molecular weight in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone at $180^{\circ}C$. Organic-inorganic composite membranes were obtained by mixing organic polymers with hydrophilic $SiO_2$ (ca. 20nm) obtained by sol-gel process. The polymer and a series of composite membranes were studied by FT-IR, $^1HNMR$, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal stability. The proton conductivity as a function of temperature decreased as $SiO_2$ content increased, but methanol permeability decreased. The nano composite membranes were found to posse all requisite properties; Ion exchange capacity (1.2meq./g), glass transition temperatures $(164-183\;^{\circ}C)$, and low affinity towards methanol $(4.63-1.08{\times}10^{-7}\;cm^2/S)$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.613-614
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• 2006

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.540-546
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• 2010

In this manuscript, in order to reduce methanol permeability and, at the same time, to increase proton conductivity THS-PSA containing silica compound, responsible for methanol permeability reduction, and sulfonic acid, responsible for proton conductivity enhancement, was applied onto PVA/PSSA-MA membranes. And in order to improve durability, the resulting membranes, PVA/PSSAMA/THS-PSA, were exposed to 500ppm F2 gas at varying reaction times. The surface-fluorinated membranes were characterized through the measurement of contact angles, thermo-gravimetric analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to observe the physico-chemical changes. For the evaluation of the electro-chemical changes in the resulting membranes, its water contents, ion exchange capacity, proton conductivity, and methanol permeability were measured and then compared with the commercial membrane, Nafion 115. Finally, the membran electrode assembly(MEA) was prepared and the cell voltage against the current density was measured. As fluorination time increased, the contents of F2 increased up to maximum 4.3% and to depth of 50 nm. At 60 min of fluorination, the proton conductivity was 0.036 S/cm, larger than Nafion 115 at 0.024 S/cm, and the methanol permeability was $9.26E-08cm^2/s$, less than Nafion 115 at $1.17E-06cm^2/s$.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.16-21
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• 2008

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.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.316-319
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• 2006

There is a worldwide interest in the development and commercialization of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) for vehicular and stationary applications. One of the major objectives is the reduction of loaded electrode materials, which is comprise of the Pt-based noble metals. In this paper, a novel chemical strategy is described for the preparation and characterization of carbon-supported and surface-alloys, which were prepared by using a successive reduction process. After preparing Au colloid nanoparticles, the deposition of Au colloid nanoparticles occurred spontaneously in the carbon black-dispersed aqueous solution. Then nano-scaled active materials were formed on the surface of carbon-supported Au nanoparticles. The structural and electrochemical analyses indicate that the active materials were deposited on the surface of Au nanoparticles selectively and that an at toying process occurred during the successive reducing process The carbon-supported & surface-alloys showed the higher electrocatalytic activity than those of the particle-alloys and commercial one (Johnson-Matthey) for the reaction of methanol and formic acid oxidation. The increased electrocatalytic activity might be attributed to the effective surface structure of surface-alloys, which have a high utilization of active materials for the surface reaction of electrode.

• New & Renewable Energy
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• v.2 no.4 s.8
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• pp.64-69
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• 2006

There is a worldwide interest in the development and commercialization of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells [PEMFCs] for vehicular and stationary applications. One of the major objectives is the reduction of loaded electrode materials, which is comprise of the Pt-based noble metals. In this paper, a novel chemical strategy is described for the preparation and characterization of carbon-supported and surface-alloys, which were prepared by using a successive reduction process. After preparing Au colloid nanoparticles, the supporting of Au colloid nanoparticles occurred spontaneously in the carbon black-dispersed aqueous solution. Then nano-scaled active materials were formed on the surface of carbon-supported Au nanoparticles. The structural and electrochemical analyses indicate that the active materials were deposited on the surface of Au nanoparticles selectively and that an alloying process occurred during the successive reducing process. The carbon-supported & surface-alloys showed the higher electrocatalytic activity than those of the particle-alloys and commercial one [Johnson-Matthey] for the reaction of methanol and formic acid oxidation. The increased electrocatalytic activity might be attributed to the effective surface structure of surface-alloys, which have a high utilization of active materials for the surface reaction of electrode.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.307-312
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• 2010

Poly (ether sulfone)s with Bisphenol-TP and Bisphenol-AF were prepared with Bisphenol-TP <4,4-dihydroxy tetraphenyl methane>, 4-Fluorophenyl sulfone, and Bisphenol-AF <4,4-(hexafluoroisopropylidene) diphenol> using Potassium carbonate in Sulfolane at $210^{\circ}C$. Sulfonated PBTP-AF were obtained by reaction of Chlorosulfuric acid with copolymers. A series of copolymers were studied by $^1H$-NMR spectroscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC), and Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA). Sorption experiments were conducted to observe the interaction of polymers with water and methanol.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2006

PVA/SSA/HPA composite membranes were prepared by the addition of SSA as a crosslinking agent and HPA such as PWA or SiWA. The water uptake decreased and the IEC increased as the HPA contents increased in PVA/SSA/HPA composite membranes. XRD results showed that HPA distributed well into the composite membranes as the HPA concentration increased, and SiWA dispersed better than PWA in the composite membranes. TGA results showed that PVA/SSA composite membranes were more heat-resistant than PVA due to the crosslinking of PVA, and the heat stability of the composite membranes improved much more as the concentration of HPA increased. The methanol barrier property of PVA/SSA/HPA composite membranes was superior to Nafion, and the methanol permeability of the composite membranes decreased as the concentration of HPA increased.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.06a
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• pp.143.1-143.1
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• 2010

고분자 전해질막 연료전지(Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell; PEMFC)는 수소를 이용하여 전기를 발생시키는 친환경적이고 이상적인 발전장치로 고효율과 높은 전류밀도를 가지며 그 응용분야가 다양하다. 저온에서 작동하는 PEM fuel cell은 전극에서 효과적인 산화환원반응을 위해 그 촉매로 활성이 우수한 Pt(Platinum)을 사용하고 있으나, Pt의 높은 가격은 연료전지의 상용화에 걸림돌이 되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 연료전지의 Pt/C 촉매 층에서 Pt의 분산성을 높여 Pt의 담지량을 줄이고 작동 중 발생하는 Pt의 응집 현상을 방지하여 Pt의 수명을 연장시킬 목적으로, Au(gold) 나노입자를 첨가한 Pt-Au/C 복합나노촉매를 제조하였다. 본 발표에서는 합성된 Pt-Au/C 복합촉매 중 Au 첨가량이 Pt 촉매의 활성에 미치는 영향을 조사하기 위하여, 복합촉매 중에 금속(Pt+Au)의 총 함량이 30 wt.%와 40 wt.% 인 Pt-Au/C 촉매에 대하여 각각 Au 첨가량을 변화시켜, cyclic voltammetry 법에 의해 Au 첨가 효과를 조사한 결과에 대하여 보고하고자 한다. Au 나노입자를 제조하기 위한 출발 물질로는 $HAuCl_4{\cdot}4H_2O$를 이용하였고 trisodium citrate와 $NaBH_4$를 환원제로 하여, 입경이 5~8 nm 인 Au 콜로이드를 제조하였다. Pt-Au/C 복합나노촉매를 제조하기 위하여 먼저 Au/C 복합분체가 제조되었다. 0.03g의 carbon이 첨가된 carbon 현탁액에 합성된 Au 콜로이드 수용액을 첨가한 후 24시간 동안 교반하여 Au/C 복합분체를 제조하였다. 이 Au/C 복합분체에 $H_2PtCl_6{\cdot}6H_2O$ 수용액을 현탁하고 methanol 을 환원제로 사용해 Pt를 환원 석출시켜 Pt-Au/C 복합촉매를 제조하였다. Pt-Au/C 복합 나노촉매에서 Pt와 Au를 다양한 비율(3:1, 2.5:1.5, 2:2)로 합성하였으며 Pt-Au/C 복합촉매 중 금속(Pt+Au) 촉매의 총 함량은 30 wt.%와 40 wt.%로 각각 제조되었다. Au 나노입자 콜로이드의 분산성은 UV-visible spectrum의 흡광도에 의해 관찰되었고, Pt-Au/C 복합 나노촉매의 형상 및 분산성 분석은 transmission electron microscopy(TEM)에 의해 이루어졌다. 또한, 촉매의 전기화학적 특성평가는 cyclic voltammetry(CV)에 의해 조사되었다.