Open AccessDistinguishing Adsorbed and Deposited Ionomers in the Catalyst Layer of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells Using Contrast-Variation Small-Angle Neutron Scattering
Author(s) -
Masashi Harada,
Shigeo Takata,
Hiroki Iwase,
Shuji Kajiya,
Hiroaki Kadoura,
Toshiji Kanaya
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
acs omega
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.779
H-Index - 40
ISSN - 2470-1343
DOI - 10.1021/acsomega.1c01535
Subject(s) - ionomer , materials science , chemical engineering , polymer , catalysis , proton exchange membrane fuel cell , electrolyte , adsorption , small angle neutron scattering , nafion , layer (electronics) , neutron scattering , carbon fibers , composite material , scattering , chemistry , electrode , organic chemistry , electrochemistry , copolymer , physics , optics , composite number , engineering
The ionomers distributed on carbon particles in the catalyst layer of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) govern electrical power via proton transport and oxygen permeation to active platinum. Thus, ionomer distribution is a key to PEFC performance. This distribution is characterized by ionomer adsorption and deposition onto carbon during the catalyst-ink coating process; however, the adsorbed and deposited ionomers cannot easily be distinguished in the catalyst layer. Therefore, we identified these two types of ionomers based on the positional correlation between the ionomer and carbon particles. The cross-correlation function for the catalyst layer was obtained by small-angle neutron scattering measurements with varying contrast. From fitting with a model for a fractal aggregate of polydisperse core-shell spheres, we determined the adsorbed-ionomer thickness on the carbon particle to be 51 Å and the deposited-ionomer amount for the total ionomer to be 50%. Our technique for ionomer differentiation can be used to optimally design PEFC catalyst layers.