Carbon Materials in Low-Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells

Carbon Materials in Low-Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells 

Carbon is a material commonly used in electrochemical energy devices, such as fuel cells, electrolysis cells, and redox flow and lithium-ion batteries. In these systems, it fulfills various functions, which can be as diverse as serving as catalytically active material, nanoparticles anchor, intercalating electrode, or electron-conducting additive. 

Carbon materials are organized in a multiscale hierarchical structure built up from subunits from the subnanometer to the millimeter scale in entities, such as crystallites, particles, and 2D and three-dimensional (3D) agglomerates. This multiscale organization can serve as a fingerprint of their preparation conditions (i.e., synthesis, fractioning, and milling) and is also responsible for some of their 

Edited by Richard C. Alkire, Philip N. Bartlett and Jacek Lipkowski. 

Templated carbons Xerogels Aerogels Glassy carbon 

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I 7 Carbon Materials in Low-Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells 7.4.2... 

However, while carbonaceous materials are abundant and therefore cheap, they also suffer from an insufficient long-term stability. Among the major issues hindering a commercial market launch of low-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC), the poor durability of the carbon-supported catalysts appears to be the most critical [69,70]. In particular in the harsh conditions at the cathode side, severe corrosion of the carbon support takes place. Electrochemical oxidation of carbon in aqueous solution is already thermodynamically... 

State-of-the-art catalyst in low and intermediate temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) is a powdered material consisting of platinum nanoparticles between 1 and 5nm in size that are supported—preferably in high dispersion—on a carbon-based support. 

There exist a variety of fuel cells. For practical reasons, fuel cells are classified by the type of electrolyte employed. The following names and abbreviations are frequently used in publications alkaline fuel cells (AFC), molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFC), phosphoric acid fuel cells (PAFC), solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), and proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). Among different types of fuel cells under development today, the PEMFC, also called polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEFC), is considered as a potential future power source due to its unique characteristics [1-3]. The PEMFC consists of an anode where hydrogen oxidation takes place, a cathode where oxygen reduction occurs, and an electrolyte membrane that permits the transfer of protons from anode to cathode. PEMFC operates at low temperature that allows rapid start-up. Furthermore, with the absence of corrosive cell constituents, the use of the exotic materials required in other fuel cell types is not required [4]. 

The membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is a delicate component in low-temperature fuel cells based on polymer electrolyte membranes. Its condition is affected by many factors (1) selection and preparation of MEA materials (catalysts, supporting carbon powder, membrane materials, binder for MEA hot pressing, etc.), (2) history of MEA usage, (3) fuel cell operation parameters, and so on. The resulting MEA condition exerts a strong influence on the fuel cell performance, which is also a function of running time. 

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