Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences, Vol 28 No 2 (2024): 388 - 396

 

PERFORMANCE OF MEMBRANE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY USING Pt/C AND CoFe/N-C CATALYSTS IN PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE FUEL CELLS

(Prestasi Pemasangan Elektrod Membran Menggunakan Pemangkin Pt/C dan CoFe/N-C dalam Sel Bahan Api Membran Pertukaran Proton)

 

Dedi Rohendi1,2, Edy Herianto Majlan 4*, Dwi Hawa Yulianti2, Juwita1, Nirwan Syarif1,2, Addy Rachmat1,2, Afriyanti Sumboja3, Nyimas Febrika S.2, and Icha Amelia2

 

1Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematic and Natural Sciences, Universitas Sriwijaya, Jl. Palembang-Prabumulih Km 32, Indralaya, Ogan Ilir 30862, Indonesia

2Center of Research Excellent in Fuel Cell and Hydrogen, Universitas Sriwijaya, Jl. Srijaya Negara, Palembang 30128, Indonesia

3Chemistry Program, Faculty of Computer and Science, Universitas Indo Global Mandiri,, Palembang, 30129, Indonesia

4Materials Science and Engineering Research Group Institut Teknologi Bandung, Faculty of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Jl. Ganesha 10, Bandung, Indonesia

5 Fuel Cell Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia

 

*Corresponding author: edyhm71@gmail.com

 

 

Received: 16 October 2023; Accepted: 15 February 2024; Published:  29 April 2024

 

 

Abstract

The performance of membrane electrode assembly (MEA) hinders fuel cell commercialisation. MEA is greatly affected by humidification, temperature and hydrogen flow rate. In this study, the effects of operating conditions on MEA were determined using Pt/C and CoFe/N-C catalysts in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Herein, two types of MEAs using the Nafion-212 membrane were prepared and tested. The anode and cathode of the first MEA were coated with Pt/C and CoFe/N-C catalysts, respectively, whereas the second MEA utilised a Pt/C catalyst on both electrodes. The electrode with Pt/C and CoFe/N-C catalysts was characterised using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy to obtain the electrochemical surface area (ECSA) and electrical conductivity of the electrode, respectively. The performance of two MEAs was tested under different operating conditions, such as various humidifier temperatures (40 °C, 60 °C, 80 °C and 100 °C) and hydrogen flow rates (100, 200, 300 and 400 mL/min). The electrode with a Pt/C catalyst exhibited higher ECSA (0.245 m2/g) than the CoFe/N-C electrode (0.018 m2/g). Similarly, the Pt/C electrode possessed higher conductivity (7.2 × 10−3 S/cm) than the CoFe/N-C electrode (4.4 × 10−3 S/cm). Consequently, the open-circuit voltage (OCV) of the second MEA with a Pt/C catalyst on both electrodes showed a higher value (0.890 V) than the OCV of the first MEA (0.790 V). Furthermore, the humidifier temperature was optimum at 80 °C, and it achieved power density levels as high as 10.14 and 3.43 mW/cm2 for the second and the first MEA, respectively. In addition, the performance of MEA was affected by the hydrogen flow rate. At the optimum hydrogen flow rate of 400 mL/min for the first MEA, a power density of 4.93 mW/cm2 was achieved. Meanwhile, the second MEA required a lower hydrogen flow rate (200 mL/min) to achieve a maximum power density of 10.14 mW/cm2.

 

Keywords: proton exchange membrane fuel cells, MEA performance, Co-Fe/N-C, humidification temperature, hydrogen flow rate

 

Abstrak

Prestasi pemasangan elektrod membran (MEA) membawa kepada kesesakan pengkomersialan sel bahan api. MEA sangat dipengaruhi oleh pelembapan, suhu, dan kadar aliran hidrogen. Dalam kajian ini, menentukan kesan keadaan operasi pada MEA menggunakan pemangkin Pt/C dan CoFe/N-C dalam sel bahan api membran pertukaran proton (PEMFC). Di sini, dua jenis MEA yang menggunakan membran Nafion-212 telah disediakan dan diuji. Anod dan katod MEA pertama disalut dengan pemangkin Pt/C dan CoFe/N-C, manakala MEA kedua menggunakan pemangkin Pt/C pada kedua-dua elektrod. Elektrod dengan pemangkin Pt/C dan CoFe/N-C dicirikan menggunakan voltammetri kitaran dan spektroskopi impedans elektrokimia (EIS) untuk mendapatkan kawasan permukaan elektrokimia (ECSA) dan kekonduksian elektrik elektrod. Prestasi dua MEA diuji dengan keadaan operasi yang berbeza, seperti pelbagai suhu humidifier (40 °C, 60 °C, 80 °C, dan 100 °C) dan kadar aliran hidrogen (100, 200, 300, dan 400 mL/min). Elektrod dengan pemangkin Pt/C mempamerkan ECSA yang lebih tinggi (0.245 m2/g) daripada elektrod CoFe/N-C (0.018 m2/g). Begitu juga, elektrod Pt/C mempunyai kekonduksian yang lebih tinggi (7.2 x 10-3 S/cm) daripada elektrod CoFe/N-C (4.4 x 10-3 S/cm). Akibatnya, voltan litar terbuka (OCV) MEA kedua dengan pemangkin Pt/C pada kedua-dua elektrod menunjukkan nilai yang lebih tinggi (0.890 V) daripada OCV MEA pertama (0.790 V). Tambahan pula, suhu humidifier adalah optimum pada 80 °C dan mencapai tahap ketumpatan kuasa setinggi 10.14 dan 3.43 mW/cm2 masing-masing untuk MEA kedua dan pertama. Di samping itu, prestasi MEA dipengaruhi oleh kadar aliran hidrogen. Dengan kadar aliran hidrogen optimum 400 mL/min untuk MEA pertama, ketumpatan kuasa 4.93 mW/cm2 telah dicapai. Sementara itu, MEA kedua memerlukan kadar aliran hidrogen yang lebih rendah (200 mL/min) untuk mencapai ketumpatan kuasa maksimum 10.14 mW/cm2.

 

Kata kunci: sel bahan api membran pertukaran proton, prestasi MEA, Co-Fe/N-C, suhu pelembapan, kadar aliran hidrogen

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