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Modeling of Catalyst Surface Area Loss in  PEMFC Cathodes

 

Ted Holby, Dane Morgan, Materials Science Program

 

 

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are a promising technology for future energy conversion devices. Loss of precious metal nanoparticle catalyst specific surface area (ESA) is a key issue in the long-term durability of PEMFC cathodes. This loss is attributed to Ostwald ripening, precious metal dissolution, particle surface migration and coalescence, and degradation of the particles’ underlying carbon support. We have developed a thermo-kinetic model that helps explain the roles of the particle size distribution and crossover H2 from the fuel cell anode on this ESA loss1. We have found that the formation of oxide(s) on the particle surfaces is likely to play an important roll in ESA loss and future studies are aimed at elucidating this role.

Figure: Pictorial display of mechanisms included in the thermo-kinetic model.

 

We gratefully acknowledge financial support from the Department of Energy (DOE) Basic Research for the Hydrogen Fuel Initiative, award number DE-FG02-05ER15728 and DE-FG01-04ER04-20. We gratefully acknowledge computing support from the National Science Foundation (NSF) National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA), award number DMR060007

 

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