Carbon Nanofiber-Reinforced Carbon Black Support for Enhancing the Durability of Catalysts Used in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells Against Carbon Corrosion
This study addresses the critical challenge of carbon corrosion in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) by developing hybrid supports that combine the high surface area of carbon black (CB) with the superior crystallinity and graphitic structure of carbon nanofibers (CNFs). Two commercially...
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Membranes |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/15/1/3 |
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| author | Minki Sung Hyeonseok Yi Jimin Han Jong Beom Lee Seong-Ho Yoon Joo-Il Park |
| author_facet | Minki Sung Hyeonseok Yi Jimin Han Jong Beom Lee Seong-Ho Yoon Joo-Il Park |
| author_sort | Minki Sung |
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| description | This study addresses the critical challenge of carbon corrosion in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) by developing hybrid supports that combine the high surface area of carbon black (CB) with the superior crystallinity and graphitic structure of carbon nanofibers (CNFs). Two commercially available CB samples were physically activated and composited with two types of CNFs synthesized via chemical vapor deposition using different carbon sources. The structure, morphology, and crystallinity of the resulting CNF–CB hybrid supports were characterized, and the performances of these hybrid supports in mitigating carbon corrosion and enhancing the PEMFC performance was evaluated through full-cell testing in collaboration with a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) manufacturer (VinaTech, Seoul, Republic, of Korea), adhering to industry-standard fabrication and evaluation procedures. Accelerated stress tests following the US Department of Energy protocols revealed that incorporating CNFs enhanced the durability of the CB-based hybrid supports without compromising their performance. The improved performance of the MEAs with the hybrid carbon support is attributed to the ability of the CNF to act as a structural backbone, facilitate water removal, and provide abundant edge plane sites for anchoring the platinum catalyst, which promoted the oxygen reduction reaction and improved catalyst utilization. The findings of this study highlight the potential of CNF-reinforced CB supports for enhancing the durability and performance of PEMFCs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-57f6a762b6de46b19ed7f301858ca95f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2077-0375 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Membranes |
| spelling | doaj-art-57f6a762b6de46b19ed7f301858ca95f2025-01-24T13:40:58ZengMDPI AGMembranes2077-03752024-12-01151310.3390/membranes15010003Carbon Nanofiber-Reinforced Carbon Black Support for Enhancing the Durability of Catalysts Used in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells Against Carbon CorrosionMinki Sung0Hyeonseok Yi1Jimin Han2Jong Beom Lee3Seong-Ho Yoon4Joo-Il Park5Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Engineering Sciences, Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga-koen, Kasuga, Fukuoka 816-8580, JapanCarbon Materials Research Group, Research Institute of industrial Science & Technology (RIST), Pohang 37673, Republic of KoreaFuel-Cell Division Building 1, 253 Cheomdansaneop 1-ro, Bongdong-eup, Wanju-gun 55313, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Hanbat National University, Daejeon 34158, Republic of KoreaInterdisciplinary Graduate School of Engineering Sciences, Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga-koen, Kasuga, Fukuoka 816-8580, JapanDepartment of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Hanbat National University, Daejeon 34158, Republic of KoreaThis study addresses the critical challenge of carbon corrosion in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) by developing hybrid supports that combine the high surface area of carbon black (CB) with the superior crystallinity and graphitic structure of carbon nanofibers (CNFs). Two commercially available CB samples were physically activated and composited with two types of CNFs synthesized via chemical vapor deposition using different carbon sources. The structure, morphology, and crystallinity of the resulting CNF–CB hybrid supports were characterized, and the performances of these hybrid supports in mitigating carbon corrosion and enhancing the PEMFC performance was evaluated through full-cell testing in collaboration with a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) manufacturer (VinaTech, Seoul, Republic, of Korea), adhering to industry-standard fabrication and evaluation procedures. Accelerated stress tests following the US Department of Energy protocols revealed that incorporating CNFs enhanced the durability of the CB-based hybrid supports without compromising their performance. The improved performance of the MEAs with the hybrid carbon support is attributed to the ability of the CNF to act as a structural backbone, facilitate water removal, and provide abundant edge plane sites for anchoring the platinum catalyst, which promoted the oxygen reduction reaction and improved catalyst utilization. The findings of this study highlight the potential of CNF-reinforced CB supports for enhancing the durability and performance of PEMFCs.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/15/1/3proton exchange membrane fuel cellmembrane electrode assemblycarbon nanofibercarbon corrosionhybrid support |
| spellingShingle | Minki Sung Hyeonseok Yi Jimin Han Jong Beom Lee Seong-Ho Yoon Joo-Il Park Carbon Nanofiber-Reinforced Carbon Black Support for Enhancing the Durability of Catalysts Used in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells Against Carbon Corrosion Membranes proton exchange membrane fuel cell membrane electrode assembly carbon nanofiber carbon corrosion hybrid support |
| title | Carbon Nanofiber-Reinforced Carbon Black Support for Enhancing the Durability of Catalysts Used in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells Against Carbon Corrosion |
| title_full | Carbon Nanofiber-Reinforced Carbon Black Support for Enhancing the Durability of Catalysts Used in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells Against Carbon Corrosion |
| title_fullStr | Carbon Nanofiber-Reinforced Carbon Black Support for Enhancing the Durability of Catalysts Used in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells Against Carbon Corrosion |
| title_full_unstemmed | Carbon Nanofiber-Reinforced Carbon Black Support for Enhancing the Durability of Catalysts Used in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells Against Carbon Corrosion |
| title_short | Carbon Nanofiber-Reinforced Carbon Black Support for Enhancing the Durability of Catalysts Used in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells Against Carbon Corrosion |
| title_sort | carbon nanofiber reinforced carbon black support for enhancing the durability of catalysts used in proton exchange membrane fuel cells against carbon corrosion |
| topic | proton exchange membrane fuel cell membrane electrode assembly carbon nanofiber carbon corrosion hybrid support |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/15/1/3 |
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