Optimization of fabrication conditions for low-Pt anode using response surface methodology in high-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell

Abstract

Optimizing the fabrication conditions of the catalyst layer in high-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells is important for improving the catalyst utilization of the electrode. In this study, the effects of the binder concentration and the heat treatment temperature on the performance of membrane electrode assembly are investigated as controlled variables for fabricating low platinum (Pt) anodes. Furthermore, the response surface methodology (RSM), which is a kind of the design of experiment method, is applied to elucidate the optimum conditions based on the statistical analysis. Polytetrafluoroethylene is used as a binder in the range of 17.1-32.2 wt.% to generate the hydrophobic surface in the heat treatment temperature range of 307-392celcius. The optimum anode based on the conditions from the RSM results shows a voltage of 0.636 V at 0.2 A/cm(2) with a Pt loading under 0.2 mg/cm(2). These results indicate that RSM can be used to optimize fabrication conditions with multiple variables. (C) 2022 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.