Influence of carbon support microstructure on the polarization behavior of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies

The influence of carbon support morphology on the polarization behavior of a PEM fuel cell membrane electrode assembly has been investigated in this communication. Nanometer sized platinum electrocatalyst particles were deposited on lower surface area fibrous (carbon nanofibers) and particulate carbon supports (carbon blacks) by the well-documented ethylene glycol route for supported electrocatalyst synthesis. These supported catalyst systems were subsequently utilized to prepare catalyst inks and membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) in conjunction with a perflurosulfonated ionomeric membrane-Nafion®. Level of liquid Nafion binder in the supported catalyst inks was varied and the ramifications of such a variation on polarization behavior of the MEA determined. The trend in polarization performance was found to be independent of the carbon support morphology in the various ink compositions. The two varieties of carbon supports were also mixed together in various weight ratios and platinum was deposited by the glycol method. Key parameters such as the platinum content on carbon and platinum particle size were determined to be independent of the nature of the supports on which the particles had been deposited. The results indicate that lower surface area carbon supports of vastly contrasting morphologies can be interchangeably employed as catalyst support materials in a PEM fuel cell MEA.