Citation: Jingwen Zhang, Hualong Ma, Jun Ma, Meixue Hu, Qihao Li, Sheng Chen, Tianshu Ning, Chuangxin Ge, Xi Liu, Li Xiao, Lin Zhuang, Yixiao Zhang, Liwei Chen. Cone Shaped Surface Array Structure on an Alkaline Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Improves Fuel Cell Performance[J]. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, ;2023, 39(2): 211103. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202111037 shu

Cone Shaped Surface Array Structure on an Alkaline Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Improves Fuel Cell Performance

Jingwen Zhang ¹ ,
Hualong Ma ¹ ,
Jun Ma ¹ ,
Meixue Hu ² ,
Qihao Li ² ,
Sheng Chen ² ,
Tianshu Ning ² ,
Chuangxin Ge ³ ,
Xi Liu ¹ ,
Li Xiao ^{2, 4} ,
Lin Zhuang ^{2, 3} ,
Yixiao Zhang ^1,, ,
Liwei Chen ^1,,

1.
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, in-situ Center for Physical Sciences, Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
2.
College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Hubei Key Lab of Electrochemical Power Sources, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
3.
The Institute for Advanced Studies, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
4.
Sauvage Center for Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China

Corresponding author: Yixiao Zhang, yxzhang2019@sjtu.edu.cn Liwei Chen, lwchen2018@sjtu.edu.cn
Received Date: 29 November 2021
Revised Date: 28 December 2021
Accepted Date: 30 December 2021
Available Online: 15 January 2022
Fund Project: the National Natural Science Foundation of China 21991153the National Natural Science Foundation of China 21991150

Fuel cells are essential energy conversion devices for future renewable energy structures. Mainstream proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) generally exhibit satisfactory performance despite requiring noble metal catalysts to be stable in acidic environments. Alkaline polymer electrolyte fuel cells (APEFCs), in contrast, offer the benefit of employing non-noble metal catalysts in fuel cells, but their overall performance and especially their long-term stability require further improvement. A critical component within APEFCs is the membrane electrode assembly (MEA), which comprises a hydroxide ion conductive polymer membrane, a cathode, and an anode (including a catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer). MEA is where electrochemical reactions occur; thus, it plays a crucial role in determining fuel cell performance. Herein, the fabrication of a cone-shaped array on the surface of an alkaline polymer electrolyte membrane for improving the overall device performance is presented. The cone array was prepared using a sacrificial anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template, and the array side of the polymer electrolyte was used as the cathode to construct the MEA, denoted as A-MEA. The control sample with no cone arrays on the polymer electrolyte surface is denoted as P-MEA. The Pt loadings on both the anode and cathode sides were approximately 0.2 mg∙cm⁻². APEFCs with A-MEA and P-MEA were separately assembled and tested in an 850e Fuel Cell Test System at a cell temperature of 80 ℃. Fully humidified hydrogen and oxygen were both supplied at a flow rate of 1000 mL·min⁻¹. The back pressure for both the anode and the cathode was 0.2 MPa. As a result, the APEFC with A-MEA exhibited a higher peak power density than that of the APEFC with P-MEA (1.48 vs. 1.04 W∙cm⁻²). The enhanced electrochemical performance of the APEFC with A-MEA was ascribed to the array-structured cathode, which improved the hydrophilicity of the polymer electrolyte membrane and increased the utilization efficiency of the catalyst. The hydrophilicity of the polymer electrolyte membrane with cone arrays was confirmed using contact angle measurements. The contact angles of the membranes with and without cone arrays were ~0° and 70.8°, respectively. The hydrophilic membrane promotes the electrode reaction at the cathode side. The electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) was also measured using cyclic voltammetry (CV) between 0.08 and 1 V (vs. reversible hydrogen electrode, RHE) at a scan rate of 20 mV∙s^-1, using fully humidified H₂ and N₂. A flow rate of 1000 mL∙min⁻¹ and back pressure of 0 MPa were employed. Results revealed that the ECSA of the cathode without the array was smaller than that of the array-structured cathode (21.17 vs. 24.89 m²∙g⁻¹), indicating that the array structure improved the catalyst utilization efficiency compared to that of the control sample. This study provides an effective strategy for the structural design and optimization of the MEAs in APEFCs.
- Fuel cell,
- Alkaline polymer electrolyte membrane,
- Membrane electrode assembly,
- Cathode,
- Array structure
1. [1]
  Stern, P. C.; Sovacool, B. K.; Dietz, T. Nat. Clim. Change 2016, 6 (6), 547. doi: 10.1038/NCLIMATE3027 doi: 10.1038/NCLIMATE3027
2. [2]
  Schrag, D. P. Elements 2007, 3 (3), 171. doi: 10.2113/gselements.3.3.171 doi: 10.2113/gselements.3.3.171
3. [3]
  Schultz, M. G.; Diehl, T.; Brasseur, G. P.; Zittel, W. Science 2003, 302 (5645), 624. doi: 10.1126/science.1089527 doi: 10.1126/science.1089527
4. [4]
  Liang, J.; Liu, X.; Li, Q. Acta Phys. -Chim. Sin. 2021, 37 (9), 2010072. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202010072
5. [5]
  Wang, J.; Ding, W.; Wei, Z. Acta Phys. -Chim. Sin. 2021, 37 (9), 2009094. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202009094
6. [6]
  Ralph, T. R.; Hogarth, M. P. Platin Met. Rev. 2002, 46 (3), 117. doi: 10.3390/books978-3-03842-659-2 doi: 10.3390/books978-3-03842-659-2
7. [7]
  Hickner, M. A.; Herring, A. M.; Coughlin, E. B. J. Polym. Sci. Part Polym. Phys. 2013, 51 (24), 1727. doi: 10.1002/polb.23395 doi: 10.1002/polb.23395
8. [8]
  Mehta, V.; Cooper, J. S. J. Power Sources 2003, 114 (1), 32. doi: 10.1016/S0378-7753(02)00542-6 doi: 10.1016/S0378-7753(02)00542-6
9. [9]
  Han, A.; Yan, X.; Chen, J.; Cheng, X.; Zhang, J. Acta Phys. -Chim. Sin. 2022, 38 (3), 1912052. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB201912052
10. [10]
  Ding, L.; Tang, T.; Hu, J. Acta Phys. -Chim. Sin. 2021, 37 (9), 2010048. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202010048
11. [11]
  Wang, Y.; Li, L.; Hu, L.; Zhuang, L.; Lu, J.; Xu, B. Electrochem. Commun. 2003, 5 (8), 662. doi: 10.1016/S1388-2481(03)00148-6 doi: 10.1016/S1388-2481(03)00148-6
12. [12]
  Xue, Y.; Wang, X.; Zhang, X.; Fang, J.; Xu, Z.; Zhang, Y.; Liu, X.; Liu, M.; Zhu, W.; Zhuang, Z. Acta Phys. -Chim. Sin. 2021, 37 (9), 2009103. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202009103
13. [13]
  Huang, G.; Mandal, M.; Peng, X.; Yang-Neyerlin, A. C.; Pivovar, B. S.; Mustain, W. E.; Kohl, P. A. J. Electrochem. Soc. 2019, 166 (10), F637. doi: 10.1149/2.1301910jes doi: 10.1149/2.1301910jes
14. [14]
  Hou, H. Acta Phys. -Chim. Sin. 2014, 30 (8), 1393. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB201406171
15. [15]
  Li, N.; Leng, Y.; Hickner, M. A.; Wang, C. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 10124. doi: 10.1021/ja403671u doi: 10.1021/ja403671u
16. [16]
  Wang, L.; Brink, J. J.; Varcoe, J. R. Chem. Commun. 2017, 53, 11771. doi: 10.1039/c7cc06392j doi: 10.1039/c7cc06392j
17. [17]
  Chen, S.; Peng, H.; Hu, M.; Wang, G.; Xiao, L.; Lu, J.; Zhuang, L. ACS Appl. Energy Mater. 2021, 4 (5), 4297. doi: 10.1021/acsaem.1c00433 doi: 10.1021/acsaem.1c00433
18. [18]
  Peng, H.; Li, Q.; Hu, M.; Xiao, L.; Lu, J.; Zhuang, L. J. Power Sources 2018, 390, 165. doi: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2018.04.047 doi: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2018.04.047
19. [19]
  Klingele, M.; Britton, B.; Breitwieser, M.; Vierrath, S.; Zengerle, R.; Holdcroft, S.; Thiele, S. Electrochem. Commun. 2016, 70, 65. doi: 10.1016/j.elecom.2016.06.017 doi: 10.1016/j.elecom.2016.06.017
20. [20]
  Kim, K. H; Lee, K. Y.; Kim, H. J.; Cho, E. Lee, S. Y.; Lim T. H.; Yoon, S. P.; Hwang I. C.; Jang, J. H. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 2010, 35 (5), 2119. doi: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2009.11.058 doi: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2009.11.058
21. [21]
  Debe, M. K. Nature 2012, 486 (7401), 43. doi: 10.1038/nature11115 doi: 10.1038/nature11115
22. [22]
  Gottesfeld, S.; Dekel, D. R.; Page, M.; Page, M.; Bae, C. Yan, Y.; Zelenay, P.; Kim, Y. J. Power Sources 2018, 375, 170. doi: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2017.08.010 doi: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2017.08.010
23. [23]
  Zhang, J.; Wang, Y.; Zhang, J.; Xu, L. Acta Phys. -Chim. Sin. 2015, 31 (12), 2316. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB20151022
24. [24]
  Liu, C. Y.; Sung, C. C. J. Power Sources 2012, 220, 348. doi: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2012.07.090 doi: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2012.07.090
25. [25]
  Moreira, J.; Ocampo, A. L.; Sebastian, P. J.; Smit, M. A.; Salazar, M. D.; Angel, P. D.; Montoya, J. A.; Pérez, R.; Martínez, L. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 2003, 28 (6), 625. doi: 10.1016/S0360-3199(02)00143-X doi: 10.1016/S0360-3199(02)00143-X
26. [26]
  Lobato, J.; Rodrigo, M. A.; Linares, J. J.; Scott, K. J. Power Sources 2002, 157 (2006), 284. doi: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2005.07.040 doi: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2005.07.040
27. [27]
  Chen, M.; Wang, M.; Yang, Z.; Wang, X. Appl. Surf. Sci. 2017, 406, 69. doi: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2017.01.296 doi: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2017.01.296
28. [28]
  Wang, G.; Zou, L.; Huang, Q.; Zou, Z. Yang, H. J. Mater. Chem. A 2019, 7 (16), 9447. doi: 10.1039/c8ta12382a doi: 10.1039/c8ta12382a
29. [29]
  Zhang, W.; Minett, A. I.; Gao, M.; Zhao, J.; Razal, J. M.; Wallace, G. G.; Romeo, T.; Chen, J. Adv. Energy Mater. 2011, 1 (4), 671. doi: 10.1002/aenm.201100092 doi: 10.1002/aenm.201100092
30. [30]
  Zhang, C.; Yu, H.; Li, Y.; Gao, Y.; Zhao, Y.; Song, W.; Shao, Z.; Yi, B. ChemSusChem 2013, 6 (4), 659. doi: 10.1002/cssc.201200828 doi: 10.1002/cssc.201200828
31. [31]
  Ning, F.; Bai, C.; Qin, J.; Song, Y.; Zhang, T.; Chen, J.; Wei, J.; Lu, G.; Wang, H.; Li, Y.; et al. J. Mater. Chem. A 2020, 8 (11), 5489. doi: 10.1039/c9ta13666e doi: 10.1039/c9ta13666e
32. [32]
  Dekel, D. R.; Rasion I, G.; Page, M.; Brandon, S. J. Power Sources 2018, 375, 191. doi: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2017.07.012 doi: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2017.07.012
33. [33]
  Sheng, W.; Zhuang, Z.; Gao, M.; Zheng, J.; Chen, J.; Yan, Y. Nat. Commun. 2015, 6 (1), 1. doi: 10.1038/ncomms6848 doi: 10.1038/ncomms6848
34. [34]
  Essalik, A.; Amouzegar, K.; Savadogo, O. J. Appl. Electrochem. 1995, 25, 404. doi: 10.1007/BF00249660 doi: 10.1007/BF00249660
1. [1]
  Shiqi Zhang , Heng Zhang , Aiwen Lei . 从物理化学的角度看化学能的利用. University Chemistry, 2025, 40(6): 310-315. doi: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202408124
2. [2]
  Xichen YAO , Shuxian WANG , Yun WANG , Cheng WANG , Chuang ZHANG . Oxygen reduction performance of self?supported Fe/N/C three-dimensional aerogel catalyst layers. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2025, 41(7): 1387-1396. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20240384
3. [3]
  Ke Qiu , Fengmei Wang , Mochou Liao , Kerun Zhu , Jiawei Chen , Wei Zhang , Yongyao Xia , Xiaoli Dong , Fei Wang . A Fumed SiO₂-based Composite Hydrogel Polymer Electrolyte for Near-Neutral Zinc-Air Batteries. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2024, 40(3): 2304036-0. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202304036
4. [4]
  Yikai Wang , Xiaolin Jiang , Haoming Song , Nan Wei , Yifan Wang , Xinjun Xu , Cuihong Li , Hao Lu , Yahui Liu , Zhishan Bo . Thickness-Insensitive, Cyano-Modified Perylene Diimide Derivative as a Cathode Interlayer Material for High-Efficiency Organic Solar Cells. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2025, 41(3): 2406007-0. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202406007
5. [5]
  Fengqiao Bi , Jun Wang , Dongmei Yang . Specialized Experimental Design for Chemistry Majors in the Context of “Dual Carbon”: Taking the Assembly and Performance Evaluation of Zinc-Air Fuel Batteries as an Example. University Chemistry, 2024, 39(4): 198-205. doi: 10.3866/PKU.DXHX202311069
6. [6]
  Hanmei Lü , Xin Chen , Qifu Sun , Ning Zhao , Xiangxin Guo . Uniform Garnet Nanoparticle Dispersion in Composite Polymer Electrolytes. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2024, 40(3): 2305016-0. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202305016
7. [7]
  Yan'e LIU , Shengli JIA , Yifan JIANG , Qinghua ZHAO , Yi LI , Xinshu CHANG . MoO₃/cellulose derived carbon aerogel: Fabrication and performance as cathode for lithium-sulfur battery. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2025, 41(8): 1565-1573. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20250054
8. [8]
  Qi Li , Pingan Li , Zetong Liu , Jiahui Zhang , Hao Zhang , Weilai Yu , Xianluo Hu . Fabricating Micro/Nanostructured Separators and Electrode Materials by Coaxial Electrospinning for Lithium-Ion Batteries: From Fundamentals to Applications. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2024, 40(10): 2311030-0. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202311030
9. [9]
  Xiao SANG , Qi LIU , Jianping LANG . Synthesis, structure, and fluorescence properties of Zn(Ⅱ) coordination polymers containing tetra-alkenylpyridine ligands. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2024, 40(11): 2124-2132. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20240158
10. [10]
  Mingyang Men , Jinghua Wu , Gaozhan Liu , Jing Zhang , Nini Zhang , Xiayin Yao . Sulfide Solid Electrolyte Synthesized by Liquid Phase Approach and Application in All-Solid-State Lithium Batteries. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2025, 41(1): 100004-0. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202309019
11. [11]
  Jiandong Liu , Xin Li , Daxiong Wu , Huaping Wang , Junda Huang , Jianmin Ma . Anion-Acceptor Electrolyte Additive Strategy for Optimizing Electrolyte Solvation Characteristics and Electrode Electrolyte Interphases for Li||NCM811 Battery. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2024, 40(6): 2306039-0. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202306039
12. [12]
  Dongdong Yao , JunweiGu , Yi Yan , Junliang Zhang , Yaping Zheng . Teaching Phase Separation Mechanism in Polymer Blends Using Process Representation Teaching Method: A Teaching Design for Challenging Theoretical Concepts in “Polymer Structure and Properties” Course. University Chemistry, 2025, 40(4): 131-137. doi: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202408125
13. [13]
  Liang MA , Honghua ZHANG , Weilu ZHENG , Aoqi YOU , Zhiyong OUYANG , Junjiang CAO . Construction of highly ordered ZIF-8/Au nanocomposite structure arrays and application of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2024, 40(9): 1743-1754. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20240075
14. [14]
  Aoyu Huang , Jun Xu , Yu Huang , Gui Chu , Mao Wang , Lili Wang , Yongqi Sun , Zhen Jiang , Xiaobo Zhu . Tailoring Electrode-Electrolyte Interfaces via a Simple Slurry Additive for Stable High-Voltage Lithium-Ion Batteries. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2025, 41(4): 2408007-0. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202408007
15. [15]
  Tianqi Bai , Kun Huang , Fachen Liu , Ruochen Shi , Wencai Ren , Songfeng Pei , Peng Gao , Zhongfan Liu . Nanoscale Mechanism of Microstructure-Dependent Thermal Diffusivity in Thick Graphene Sheets. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2025, 41(3): 2404024-0. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202404024
16. [16]
  Qianwen Han , Tenglong Zhu , Qiuqiu Lü , Mahong Yu , Qin Zhong . Performance and Electrochemical Asymmetry Optimization of Hydrogen Electrode Supported Reversible Solid Oxide Cell. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2025, 41(1): 100005-0. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202309037
17. [17]
  Jiandong Liu , Zhijia Zhang , Kamenskii Mikhail , Volkov Filipp , Eliseeva Svetlana , Jianmin Ma . Research Progress on Cathode Electrolyte Interphase in High-Voltage Lithium Batteries. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2025, 41(2): 2308048-0. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202308048
18. [18]
  Endong YANG , Haoze TIAN , Ke ZHANG , Yongbing LOU . Efficient oxygen evolution reaction of CuCo₂O₄/NiFe-layered bimetallic hydroxide core-shell nanoflower sphere arrays. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2024, 40(5): 930-940. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20230369
19. [19]
  Yuxia Luo , Xiaoyu Xie , Fangfang Chen . 药物递送魔法师——分子印迹聚合物. University Chemistry, 2025, 40(8): 202-210. doi: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202409129
20. [20]
  Zhaoxuan ZHU , Lixin WANG , Xiaoning TANG , Long LI , Yan SHI , Jiaojing SHAO . Application of poly(vinyl alcohol) conductive hydrogel electrolytes in zinc ion batteries. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2025, 41(5): 893-902. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20240368

Get Citation

PDF

XML

Metrics

PDF Downloads(20)
Abstract views(1408)
HTML views(276)

通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com

1.
沈阳化工大学材料科学与工程学院沈阳 110142