Microstructure Investigation of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Catalyst Layers Containing Perfluorosulfonated Ionomer

Perfluorosulfonated ionomers are the most successful ion-exchange membranes at an industrial scale. One recent, cutting-edge application of perfluorosulfonated ionomers is in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). In PEFCs, the ionomers are used as a component of the catalyst layer (CL) in addition to functioning as a proton-exchange membrane. In this study, the microstructures in the CLs of PEFCs were characterized by combined synchrotron X-ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses. The CL comprised a catalyst, a support, and an ionomer. Fractal dimensional analysis of the combined ultrasmall- and small-angle X-ray scattering profiles indicated that the carbon-black-supported Pt catalyst (Pt/CB) surface was covered with the ionomer in the CL. Anomalous X-ray scattering revealed that the Pt catalyst nanoparticles on the carbon surfaces were aggregated in the CLs. These findings are consistent with the ionomer/catalyst microstructures and ionomer coverage on the Pt/CB surface obtained from TEM observations.

Automated summary

Perfluorosulfonated ionomers are successfully used as ion-exchange membranes in industrial applications, and are also utilized in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) as a component of the catalyst layer. Through synchrotron X-ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy analyses, it was found that the ionomers cover the Pt/CB surface and the Pt catalyst nanoparticles aggregate in the catalyst layer of PEFCs.