LEAP lab
Proton exchange membrane fuel Cell
Proton exchange membrane fuel Cell
Proton exchange membrane fuel cell
Research Area II / PEMFC & PEM-electrolysis
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC), also known as polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell being developed mainly for mobility such like fuel cell vehicles and Drone, as well as for stationary power plant application recently. PEM-electrolysis is reverse operation mode of PEMFC for the electrolysis of water.
Hydrogen energy sector has received a great deal of attention because of their potential promising environmentally friendly power storage and generation with no pollution to realize carbon neutrality. When it comes to the recent point of carbon neutrality, the various power train based on fossil sources should be mostly changed to the green electric power train including hydrogen fuel cell like proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) to reduce the carbon emission on the road. Despite several successful launching of PEMFC in the green mobility market, fuel cell typed heavy vehicle operation impose severs durability and performance constrains on the electrocatalyst beyond the cost-effective demand for the reducing PGM (Pt group metal) loading contents. In particular, the long lifetime and high-power density are the most critically important issues as a potential PEMFC application on heavy-duty trucks compared with pure electric power vehicles.
Here within, we are exploring alternative support materials, which can be conductive oxide or functional ceramics, for robust catalyst support instead of carbon-based materials to avoid carbon corrosion. The degradation mechanisms of PEMFC catalyst typically are investigated so far in details as follow: (1) Pt dissolution, (2) Ostwald ripening, (3) agglomeration, (4) particle detachment, and (5) carbon corrosion. These mechanisms are always turned up complexly as the Pt electrocatalytic activity electrochemically accelerate carbon corrosion in acidic aqueous condition. Subsequently, the oxidation of carbons hinders interaction between Pt catalyst and support leading to the Pt’s detachment and agglomeration. Therefore, not only improving ORR activity but also avoiding carbon corrosion of the cathode catalyst should be addressed as the key challenging technical issues for durability.