Enhancing proton exchange membrane fuel cell performance via graphene oxide surface synergy

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are one of the most promising energy solutions in meeting the soaring global energy demand and relieving the environmental concerns associated with greenhouse emissions. Cost and durability are two main obstacles hindering the successful commercialization of PEMFCs. Here, we propose a solution which could significantly enhance durability, reduce PGM catalyst, and increase tolerance to impure hydrogen sources thereby reducing cost and increasing convenience by allowing operation in ambient conditions. We show that applying a coating of 1 mu g/cm(2) of graphene oxide (GO) directly onto the Nafion membrane or electrodes enabled a 60% enhancement of the maximum power output to 0.78 or 0.76 W/cm(2), using only a total of 0.15 mg/cm(2) Pt catalyst. Durability tests were carried out complying with the DOE2020 protocols, indicating that the enhancement persisted even after 30k cycles, where the maximum power decrease was only 9%, as compared with 18% in the control sample, and the decrease in voltage at 1.5 A/cm(2) was only 13%, as compared with 70% of the control sample. In addition, blending of 0.1% CO gas into the input H-2 stream reduced the power by 72% in the control, while only 26% power reduction was observed in the coated PEMFCs. Also, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements exhibited a decrease in resistance of only 13%, while the active Pt surface area of the electrode with GO coating after 30k cycles was 17.5% higher than the control and the minimal DOE requirement.