Effect of crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol)/sulfosuccinic acid ionomer loading on PEMFC electrode performance

•Electrode has effective porous structure at ionomer loadings below 0.1 mg cm−2.•Electrode has high active surface area when ionomer loading is 0.04 mg cm−2.•Cell incubation occurs effectively at ionomer loadings less than 0.1 mg cm−2.•PVA/SSA ionomer is suitable at anode in PFSA as well as PVA/SSA based MEAs.•PVA/SSA ionomer loadings below 0.1 mg cm−2 are ideal for PEMFC anode materials.

In this study, crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol)/sulfosuccinic acid (PVA/SSA) ionic polymer and Nafion® N-115 membranes are used as electrolytes to fabricate different types of membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). Each MEA is fabricated with various crosslinked PVA/SSA ionomer loadings (0.04-1.5 mg cm−2) in catalyst layer based on volumetric ratio between catalyst and ionomer. Properties of each catalyst layer are evaluated using scanning electron microscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and hydrogen pumping technique. I-V characteristics, impedance, and incubation behaviour of each cell are evaluated in fuel cell testing fixture. Incubation of cell is effective when ionomer loadings are below 0.1 mg cm−2. At ionomer loading of 0.04 mg cm−2, PEMFC demonstrates highest power densities than that observed with other loadings of ionomer due to higher electrochemical active surface area of the electrode. Hydrogen pumping studies reveals that the PVA/SSA ionic polymer is a potential anode material for PEMFC electrodes while ionomer loadings are below 0.1 mg cm−2.