High performance MWCNT–Pt nanocomposite-based cathode for passive direct methanol fuel cells
High performance MWCNT–Pt nanocomposite-based cathode for passive direct methanol fuel cells
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DOI：
10.1039/c6ra28703d
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发表时间：
2017-02
期刊：
影响因子：
3.9
通讯作者：
L. Pu;Liangliang Zou;Yi Zhou;Z. Zou;Hui Yang
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
L. Pu;Liangliang Zou;Yi Zhou;Z. Zou;Hui Yang
降低阴极铂负载量是发展被动式直接甲醇燃料电池(DMFC)的关键。在这里，一种新型的膜电极组件(MEA)被证明使用具有3D网络结构的MWCNT-铂纳米复合阴极催化层(CCL)需要显著减少的铂负载。在铂负载量为0.5 mg cm−2时，用2.0M甲醇溶液在2 5±1℃下制备的直接甲醇燃料电池的最大功率密度为19.2±0.4 mW cm−2，高于传统的铂负载量为2倍的膜电极的功率密度(1.0 mg cm−2)。电化学测试表明，与传统的MEA相比，CCL的结构降低了阴极反应的电荷转移阻力，大大提高了阴极催化剂的利用率。这种增强的MEA性能归因于铂多壁碳纳米管结构的不连续分布和在CCL中形成的交叉缠绕网络。这项研究为降低未来DMFC的商业化成本提供了一条有希望的途径。
Reduction of the Pt loading required in cathodes is crucial for the development of passive direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Herein, a novel membrane electrode assembly (MEA) that utilizes a MWCNT–Pt nanocomposite cathodic catalyst layer (CCL) with a 3D network structure is shown to require significantly less Pt loading. With a CCL Pt loading of 0.5 mg cm−2, the maximum power density of the prepared DMFC is 19.2 ± 0.4 mW cm−2 using 2.0 M methanol solution at 25 ± 1 °C, which is higher than that of the power density by a conventional MEA with twice the Pt loading (1.0 mg cm−2). Electrochemical tests show that the structure of the CCL decreases the charge transfer resistance of the cathode reaction and greatly increases the cathode catalyst utilization in comparison with the conventional MEA. The enhanced MEA performance is attributed to the discontinuous distributions of the Pt MWCNT structures and the formation of a cross-twined network within the CCL. This study could provide a promising way to reduce the cost of future commercialized DMFCs.