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Improvement of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell performances by optimization of the hot pressing process for membrane electrode assembly

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Abstract

The present study deals with PEM fuel cells, namely with the optimization of the hot pressing process for membrane electrode assembly (MEA) fabrication. Designs of experiments (DoE) have been used for evaluating the effect of hot pressing parameters (pressure, temperature, and time) on the MEA electrical performances. Full factorial 23 DoE showed that the most important parameter is the pressing temperature. Surface response methodology indicated a non-monotonous behavior of the MEA electrical performances with respect to the pressing temperature. The MEA electrical performances increased with the pressing temperature in the temperature range from 100 to 115 °C, and decreased significantly in the temperature range from 115 to 130 °C. This behavior was attributed to drastic changes of the Nafion® 112 membrane properties and membrane/electrode interface over this temperature range. Observations of the MEA cross-section structure by scanning electron microscopy confirmed such hypotheses. Thermo-mechanical properties of Nafion® as determined by dynamic scanning calorimetry allowed estimating the glass transition temperature at ca. T g ≈ 117 °C in the conditions of the present study. The higher H2/air fuel cell performance of ca. 0.8 W cm−2 was obtained with the optimized pressing temperature for MEA fabrication of ca. 115 °C close to the T g temperature of Nafion® 112, whereas for higher temperature the structure of the Nafion® membrane and of the membrane–electrode interface is damaged.

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Acknowledgments

This work pertains to the French Government program “Investissementsd’Avenir” (LABEX INTERACTIFS, reference ANR-11-LABX-0017-01). The authors thank the Mechanical Branch of P’ Institute and SIMIS IBISA-SFA Laboratory of the University of Poitiers for their help in the realization of dynamic scanning calorimetric and scanning electron microscopy, respectively.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut Pprime UPR du CNRS 3346 CNRS, Université de Poitiers, ENSMA, Département Fluides, Thermiques, Combustion - Fluide Branche, 4 rue Michel Brunet, Poitiers Cedex, 86022, France

    S. Martemianov & V. A. Raileanu Ilie

  2. Université de Poitiers, IC2MP, UMR CNRS 7285, Catalysis and Unconventional Media group, rue Michel brunet, 86022, Poitiers Cedex, France

    C. Coutanceau

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  1. S. Martemianov
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  2. V. A. Raileanu Ilie
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  3. C. Coutanceau
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Correspondence to S. Martemianov.

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Martemianov, S., Raileanu Ilie, V.A. & Coutanceau, C. Improvement of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell performances by optimization of the hot pressing process for membrane electrode assembly. J Solid State Electrochem 18, 1261–1269 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-013-2273-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-013-2273-2

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