PEM Electrochemical Hydrogen Compression with Sputtered Pt Catalysts

Membranes, vol. 13, pp. 594

Abstract

This work presents research on thin magnetron-sputtered platinum (Pt) films deposited over commercial gas diffusion electrodes and applied to convert and pressurize hydrogen in an electrochemical hydrogen pump. The electrodes were integrated into a membrane electrode assembly with a proton conductive membrane. Their electrocatalytic efficiency toward hydrogen oxidation and hydrogen evolution reactions was studied in a self-made laboratory test cell by means of steady-state polarization curves and cell voltage measurements (U/j and U/pdiff characteristics). The achieved current density at a cell voltage of 0.5 V, the atmospheric pressure of the input hydrogen, and a temperature of 60 °C was more than 1.3 A cm−2. The registered increase in the cell voltage with the increasing pressure was only 0.05 mV bar−1. Comparative data with commercial E-TEK electrodes reveal the superior catalyst performance and essential cost reduction of the electrochemical hydrogen conversion on the sputtered Pt films.

Authors 5

1. Galin Rusev Borisov corresponding

   Bulgarian Academy of Sciences · Institute of Electrochemistry and Energy Systems

   Affiliation as printed

   “Acad. Evgeni Budevski” Institute of Electrochemistry and Energy Systems—Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Street 10, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria

2. Nevelin Borisov

   Bulgarian Academy of Sciences · Institute of Electrochemistry and Energy Systems

   Affiliation as printed

   “Acad. Evgeni Budevski” Institute of Electrochemistry and Energy Systems—Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Street 10, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria

3. Jochen Heiss Aachen Institute of Materials in Electrical Engineering I

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Materials in Electrical Engineering I, RWTH, Aachen University, Sommerfeld Street 24, 52074 Aachen, Germany

4. Uwe Schnakenberg Aachen Institute of Materials in Electrical Engineering I

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Materials in Electrical Engineering I, RWTH, Aachen University, Sommerfeld Street 24, 52074 Aachen, Germany

5. Evelina P. Slavcheva corresponding

   Bulgarian Academy of Sciences · Institute of Electrochemistry and Energy Systems

   Affiliation as printed

   “Acad. Evgeni Budevski” Institute of Electrochemistry and Energy Systems—Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Street 10, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria