Membrane Electrode morphology

Bose, A. B., Shaik, R., and Mawdsley, J. Optimization of the performance of polymer electrolyte fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies Roles of curing parameters on the catalyst and ionomer structures and morphology. Journal of Power Sources 2008 182 61-65. 

Clearly, a fundamental understanding of the key strac-ture/property relationships, particularly membrane morphology and conductivity as a function of polymer electrolyte architecture and water content - both in the bulk hydrated membrane and at the various interfaces within the membrane electrode assembly (MEA), can provide guidance in the synthesis of novel materials or MEA manufacturing techniques that lead to the improvement in the efficiency and/or operating range of PEMFCs. 

Kundu, S., Fowler, M.W., Simon, L.C., Grot, S. 2006. Morphological features (defects) in fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies. Journal of Power Sources, 157,650-656. 

Design parameters of the anode catalyst for the polymer electrolyte membrane fiiel cells were investigated in the aspect of active metal size and inter-metal distances. Various kinds of catalysts were prepared by using pretreated Ketjenblacks as support materials. The prepared electro-catalysts have the morphology such as the sizes of active metal are in the range from 2.0 to 2.8nm and the inter-metal distances are 5.0 to 14.2nm. The electro-catalysts were evaluated as an electrode of PEMFC. In Fig. 1, it looked as if there was a correlation between inter-metal distances and cell performance, i.e. the larger inter-metal distances are related to the inferior cell performance. 

Transport properties of hydrated PFSA membranes strongly depend on nanophase-segregated morphology, water content, and state of water. In an operational fuel cell, these characteristics are indirectly determined by the humidity level of the reactant streams and Faradaic current densities generated in electrodes, as well as the transport properhes of catalyst layers, gas diffusion layers, and flow... 

Like many other fluoropolymers, Nafion is quite resistant to chemical attack, but the presence of its strong perfluorosulfonic acid groups imparts many of its desirable properties as a proton exchange membrane. Fine dispersions (sometimes incorrectly called solutions) can be generated with alcohol/water treatments. Such dispersions are often critical for the generation of the catalyst electrode structure and the MEAs. Films prepared by simply drying these dispersions are often called recast Nafion, and it is often not realized that its morphology and physical behavior are much different from those of the extruded, more crystalline form. 

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