Catalyst layer network formation and its effect on fuel cell performance

A new catalyst layer (CL) deposition technique was investigated, in situ sonication, where the morphology and fuel cell performance was compared to the standard hand painting deposition technique. The in situ sonication method produced a more uniform, well-dispersed, and less porous CL compared to the standard hand painted CL. The fuel cell performance of this new technique was considerably lower than the standard CL fabrication technique. However, SEM images of the CL after fuel cell testing displayed different CL structures, a network of Nafion fibers connecting catalyst particles. This network microstructure, and not the CL microstructure prior to fuel cell testing, might be responsible for the differences in fuel cell performance. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 230th ACS National Meeting (Washington, DC 8/28/2005-9/1/2005).

Catalyst layer network formation and its effect on fuel cell performance Conference Paper