| Download | - View accepted manuscript: DMFC electrode preparation, performance and proton conductivity measurements (PDF, 856 KiB)
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| DOI | Resolve DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-008-9678-0 |
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| Author | Search for: Birry, L.1; Search for: Bock, C.1; Search for: Xue, X.1; Search for: McMillan, R.1; Search for: MacDougall, B.1 |
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| Affiliation | - National Research Council of Canada. NRC Institute for Chemical Process and Environmental Technology
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| Format | Text, Article |
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| Subject | DMFC; Impedance spectroscopy; Electrode structure; Membrane electrode assembly; Conditioning; Fuel cell electrode preparatiuon; Proton conductivity |
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| Abstract | A method that involves stenciling electrodes using dry powders for fuel cells is described and compared to anodes and cathodes prepared by the traditional spraying method using catalyst inks. Methods to determine the proton conductivity of the DMFC anode layer are also discussed. The stenciling method allows for the preparation of highly reproducible membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) utilizing little waste material. MEAs can be prepared in a controlled manner using the stenciling technique. The resulting morphology of the as-prepared electrodes is observed to be dependent on the preparation method, while the thickness of the once hot-pressed catalyst layers appears to be independent of the preparation method. Stenciled anodes of the same catalyst loading were found to show a lower proton resistance (Rp) than sprayed anodes. However, the lower Rp value was not sufficient to result in a measurable increase in the performance of a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC); as in fact, the average steady-state DMFC performance was found to be the same using sprayed or stenciled electrodes. The DMFC performance was found to be strongly dependent on the Nafion content and large increases in the Nafion content were needed to increase the DMFC performance measurably. Even though thick electrodes were prepared in this work, the Rp values of the stenciled anodes were found to be comparable to results reported in the literature for much thinner electrodes made using high metal catalyst loadings on carbon. This observation is most probably due to the higher Nafion content used in this work. |
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| Publication date | 2008-10-28 |
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| In | |
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| Language | English |
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| Peer reviewed | Yes |
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| NRC number | NRCC 52145 |
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| NPARC number | 15329317 |
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| Export citation | Export as RIS |
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| Report a correction | Report a correction (opens in a new tab) |
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| Record identifier | a6ece81c-77ec-441c-a95b-f79068f8247d |
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| Record created | 2010-05-19 |
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| Record modified | 2020-04-15 |
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