Effect of heat-treatment temperature on carbon corrosion in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

This study examines the effect of heat-treatment temperature on the electrochemical corrosion of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) in polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells. Corrosion is investigated by monitoring the generation of CO2 using an on-line mass spectrometer at a constant potential of 1.4 V for 30 min. The experimental results show that the generation of CO2 decreases with increasing heat-treatment temperature, indicating that less electrochemical carbon corrosion occurs. In particular, when the heat-treatment temperature is 2400 °C, the change intensifies. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis shows that oxygen functional groups on the carbon surface decrease with increasing heat-treatment temperature. A reduction in oxygen functional groups increases the hydrophobic nature of the carbon surface, which is responsible for the increased corrosion resistance of CNFs.