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High-Performance and Durable Membrane Electrode Assemblies for High-Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells

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Abstract

Membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) with gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) fabricated by various catalyst layer (CL) deposit technologies were investigated for the application of high-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (HT-PEMFC). The physical properties of the GDEs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and pore size distribution. The electrochemical properties were evaluated and analyzed by polarization curve, Tafel equation, electrochemistry impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The results showed that the electrodes prepared by ultrasonic spraying and automatic catalyst spraying under irradiation (ACSUI) methods have superior CL structure and high electrochemistry activity, resulting in high fuel cell performances. Durability tests revealed the feasibility of the electrodes for long-term HT-PEMFC operation.

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Acknowledgments

This work is supported by Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies RDI Programme (HySA), funded by the Department of Science and Technology in South Africa (Project KP1-S01).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. HySA Systems Competence Centre, South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535, South Africa

    Huaneng Su, Cecil Felix, Olivia Barron, Piotr Bujlo, Bernard J. Bladergroen, Bruno G. Pollet & Sivakumar Pasupathi

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  1. Huaneng Su
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  2. Cecil Felix
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  3. Olivia Barron
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  7. Sivakumar Pasupathi
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Correspondence to Huaneng Su.

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Su, H., Felix, C., Barron, O. et al. High-Performance and Durable Membrane Electrode Assemblies for High-Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells. Electrocatalysis 5, 361–371 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12678-014-0202-5

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