Nanosized platinum particles supported on carbon black carriers are popular for use in fabrication of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Here, an electrophoretic deposition (EPD) process is proposed to investigate the power performance of nanopowders onto various carbon-based electrodes for the PEMFC applications in a better controlled and cost-effective manner. Novel deposition of nanocatalysts and Nafion® solution via electrophoretic process give rise to higher deposition efficiency and a uniform distribution of catalyst and Nafion ionomer on the electrodes of PEMFCs. Preparation of an EPD suspension with good dispersivity is much desirable for an agreeable overall performance of catalyst coating in terms of types of organic solvents, milling processes, and use of pH adjusting agents and surfactants in the EPD suspension. The EPD suspension was prepared by sonication of mixture of nanopowders, Nafion solution and isopropyl alcohol, the optimal pH value of which was reached by using acetic acid or ammonium hydroxide. The colloidal stability of EPD suspension was achieved at pH for an EPD suspension of either catalysts or mixture of catalysts and Nafion ionomer. A nicely distributed deposition of nanocatalysts and Nafion ionomer on both hydrophilic or hydrophobic carbon-based electrodes was successfully obtained by using concentration of , electrical field of , and deposition time of . Microstructural analysis results indicate that nanopowders not only embrace the entire surface of carbon fibers but also infiltrate into the gaps and voids in fiber bundles such that a higher contact area of the same loading of nanocatalysts through the EPD process is thus expected. At present, the EPD process can effectively save more of Pt catalyst loading on electrodes in PEMFC, as compared to conventional methods, such as screen printing, brushing, or spraying through the similar level of power performance for PEMFCs.
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February 2007
This article was originally published in
Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology
Technical Papers
Novel Deposition of Nanocatalysts and Nafion® Solution on Carbon-Based Electrodes via Electrophoretic Process for PEM Fuel Cells
R. F. Louh,
R. F. Louh
Department of Materials Science and Engineering,
Feng Chia University
, 100 Wenhwa Road, Taichung, Taiwan 407
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Hansen Huang,
Hansen Huang
Department of Materials Science and Engineering,
Feng Chia University
, 100 Wenhwa Road, Taichung, Taiwan 407
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Felix Tsai
Felix Tsai
Department of Materials Science and Engineering,
Feng Chia University
, 100 Wenhwa Road, Taichung, Taiwan 407
Search for other works by this author on:
R. F. Louh
Department of Materials Science and Engineering,
Feng Chia University
, 100 Wenhwa Road, Taichung, Taiwan 407
Hansen Huang
Department of Materials Science and Engineering,
Feng Chia University
, 100 Wenhwa Road, Taichung, Taiwan 407
Felix Tsai
Department of Materials Science and Engineering,
Feng Chia University
, 100 Wenhwa Road, Taichung, Taiwan 407J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol. Feb 2007, 4(1): 72-78 (7 pages)
Published Online: April 17, 2006
Article history
Received:
November 30, 2005
Revised:
April 17, 2006
Citation
Louh, R. F., Huang, H., and Tsai, F. (April 17, 2006). "Novel Deposition of Nanocatalysts and Nafion® Solution on Carbon-Based Electrodes via Electrophoretic Process for PEM Fuel Cells." ASME. J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol. February 2007; 4(1): 72–78. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2393307
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