Degradation Effects at the Porous Transport Layer/Catalyst Layer Interface in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Water Electrolyzer

Journal of The Electrochemical Society, vol. 170, pp. 034508

Abstract

The porous transport layer (PTL)/catalyst layer (CL) interface plays a crucial role in the achievement of high performance and efficiency in polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWEs). This study investigated the effects of the PTL/CL interface on the degradation of membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) during a 4000 h test, comparing the MEAs assembled with uncoated and Ir-coated Ti PTLs. Our results show that compared to an uncoated PTL/CL interface, an optimized interface formed when using a platinum group metal (PGM) coating, i.e., an iridium layer at the PTL/CL interface, and reduced the degradation of the MEA. The agglomeration and formation of voids and cracks could be found for both MEAs after the long-term test, but the incorporation of an Ir coating on the PTL did not affect the morphology change or oxidation of IrO x in the catalyst layer. In addition, our studies suggest that the ionomer loss and restructuring of the anodic MEA can also be reduced by Ir coating of the PTL/CL interface. Optimization of the PTL/CL interface improves the performance and durability of a PEMWE.

Authors 14

1. Chang Liu corresponding Aachen Modeling in Electrochemical Process Engineering

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Institute of Energy and Climate Research (IEK-14): Electrochemical Process Engineering, 52425, Jülich, Germany

   Modeling in Electrochemical Process Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, 52056, Aachen, Germany

2. Meital Shviro

   Forschungszentrum Jülich

   Affiliation as printed

   Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Institute of Energy and Climate Research (IEK-14): Electrochemical Process Engineering, 52425, Jülich, Germany

3. Guido Bender

   National Laboratory of the Rockies

   Affiliation as printed

   Chemistry and Nanoscience Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO 80401, United States of America

4. Aldo Saul Gago

   Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR)

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Pfaffenwaldring 38-40, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany

5. Tobias Morawietz

   Esslingen University of Applied Sciences · Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR)

   Affiliation as printed

   Faculty of Science, Energy and Building Services, Esslingen University of Applied Sciences, Kanalstraße 33, 73728, Esslingen am Neckar, Germany

   Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Pfaffenwaldring 38-40, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany

6. Michael J. Dzara

   Colorado School of Mines

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Chemistry, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, United States of America

7. Indro Biswas

   Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR)

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Pfaffenwaldring 38-40, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany

8. Pawel Gazdzicki

   Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR)

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Pfaffenwaldring 38-40, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany

9. Zhenye Kang

   National Laboratory of the Rockies

   Affiliation as printed

   Chemistry and Nanoscience Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO 80401, United States of America

10. Sarah F. Zaccarine

    Colorado School of Mines

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Chemistry, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, United States of America

11. Svitlana Pylypenko

    Colorado School of Mines

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Chemistry, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, United States of America

12. K. Andreas Friedrich

    University of Stuttgart · Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR)

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute for Building Energetics, Thermotechnology and Energy Storage (IGTE), University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 31, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany

    Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Pfaffenwaldring 38-40, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany

13. Marcelo Carmo

    Forschungszentrum Jülich · Queen's University

    Affiliation as printed

    Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Institute of Energy and Climate Research (IEK-14): Electrochemical Process Engineering, 52425, Jülich, Germany

    Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada

    Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada

14. Werner Lehnert Aachen Modeling in Electrochemical Process Engineering

    Forschungszentrum Jülich · RWTH Aachen University

    Affiliation as printed

    Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Institute of Energy and Climate Research (IEK-14): Electrochemical Process Engineering, 52425, Jülich, Germany

    Modeling in Electrochemical Process Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, 52056, Aachen, Germany