Keun-Hwan Oh

Enhanced durability of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells by functionalized 2D boron nitride nanoflakes.

We report boron nitride nanoflakes (BNNFs), for the first time, as a nanofiller for polymer electrolyte membranes in fuel cells. Utilizing the intrinsic mechanical strength of two-dimensional (2D) BN, addition of BNNFs even at a marginal content (0.3 wt %) significantly improves mechanical stability of the most representative hydrocarbon-type (HC-type) polymer electrolyte membrane, namely sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (sPEEK), during substantial water uptake through repeated wet/dry cycles. For facile processing with BNNFs that frequently suffer from poor dispersion in most organic solvents, we non-covalently functionalized BNNFs with 1-pyrenesulfonic acid (PSA). Besides good dispersion, PSA supports efficient proton transport through its sulfonic functional groups. Compared to bare sPEEK, the composite membrane containing BNNF nanofiller exhibited far improved long-term durability originating from enhanced dimensional stability and diminished chronic edge failure. This study suggests that introduction of properly functionalized 2D BNNFs is an effective strategy in making various HC-type membranes sustainable without sacrificing their original adventurous properties in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells.

Suppression of θ″ formation in the SiC whisker-reinforced Al-4 wt% Cu composites

Precipitation characteristics in a powder metallurgy (Al-4wt% Cu)-SiC whisker composite were investigated using transmission electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and macrohardness measurement. The results of macrohardness measurement show that the peak ageing is significantly retarded in the SiC whisker-reinforced Al-Cu alloys. It is shown that the suppression of θ″ formation plays an important role in the retarded age hardening. The suppression of θ″ formation is attributed to a high density of dislocations due to the difference in the thermal contraction between the whiskers and matrix. Numerical analysis was performed to estimate the misfit strain generated during cooling near the whiskers. The results indicate that a high density of dislocations should be developed by the relief of the misfit strain.

Interlocking Membrane/Catalyst Layer Interface for High Mechanical Robustness of Hydrocarbon‐Membrane‐Based Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells

A physical interlocking interface that can tightly bind a sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) (SPAES) membrane and a Nafion catalyst layer in polymer electrolyte fuel cells is demonstrated. Owing to higher expansion with hydration for SPAES than for Nafion, a strong normal force is generated at the interface of a SPAES pillar and a Nafion hole, resulting in an 8-fold increase of the interfacial bonding strength at RH 50% and a 4.7-times increase of the wet/dry cycling durability.

Perfluorosulfonic acid-functionalized Pt/graphene as a high-performance oxygen reduction reaction catalyst for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) on carbon black (CB) have been used as catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in proton exchange membrane fuel cells for a while. However, this catalyst has suffered from aggregation and dissolution of Pt NPs as well as CB dissolution. In this study, we resolve those issues by developing perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA)-functionalized Pt/graphene as a high-performance ORR catalyst. The noncovalently bonded PFSA remarkably decreases the dissolution and aggregation of Pt NPs. Moreover, unlike typical NP functionalization with other capping agents, PFSA is a proton conductor and thus efficiently develops a triple-phase boundary. These advantageous features are reflected in the improved cell performance in electrochemical active surface area, catalytic activity, and long-term durability, compared to those of the commercial Pt/C catalysts and graphene-based catalysts with no such treatment.

Proton Conducting Membrane Based on Crosslinked Sulfonated Polyimide for Direct Methanol Fuel Cell

Crosslinked membrane based on sulfonated polyimide was prepared by the introduction of crosslinkable monomer in polymerization process and crosslinking during membrane casting. Crosslinked membranes showed different properties from non-crosslinked membranes. Crosslinking decreased methanol crossover and therefore unit cell using crosslinked membrane showed increased open circuit voltage, 0.81 V, in comparison with unit cell using noncrosslinked membrane, 0.71 V. In addition, water uptake of crosslinked membrane, 40.5%, was lower than that of non-crosslinked membrane, 57.0%, and this resulted in improved dimensional stability. However, proton conductivity of crosslinked membranes showed rather low relative to non-crosslinked membrane due to reduced water uptake.

Modulated Ionomer Distribution in the Catalyst Layer of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells for High Temperature Operation

Ionomer distribution is an important design parameter for high performance polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs); however, the nano-scale modulation of the ionomer morphology has not been intensively explored. Here, we propose a new route to modulate the ionomer distribution that features the introduction of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) to the cathode catalyst layer and the leaching the PEG phase from the catalyst layer using a water effluent during operation. The key concept in the approach is the expansion of the ionomer thin film through the PEG addition. We demonstrate that the modulated ionomer distribution increases the electrochemical active area and proton transport property, without loss in oxygen transport, at a fixed ionomer content. At a high temperature of 120 °C, the power performance at 0.6 V is increased by 1.73-fold with the modulated ionomer distribution as a result of 1.25-fold increase in the electrochemical active area and two-fold increase in the proton transport rate in the catalyst layer.