燃料电池是一种将燃料反应的化学能转化为电能的装置,可分为氢氧质子交换膜燃料电池(PEMFCs)、直接甲醇燃料电池(DMFCs)和直接甲酸燃料电池等.与PEMFCs相比,DMFCs以甲醇为燃料,燃料的储存运输和电池操作运行具有较高的安全性,所以近年来受到人们的广泛关注.膜电极组件(MEA)是DMFCs的核心部分,由气体扩散层(GDL)、催化层(CL)和质子交换膜(PEM)三部分组成.GDL用于提高电池传质能力,并同时作为MEA的集流体.PEM主要用于隔离燃料和氧气,进行质子传导.CL是MEA中的主要组成部分,为电化学反应提供场所.催化层由催化剂,质子传输介质和电子传输介质组成.通常,阳极催化剂采用Pt Ru/C,阴极采用Pt/C,质子传输介质为全氟磺酸树脂,如Nafion.CL的结构对电池性能有直接的影响,因此人们对CL的结构进行了详细的研究,并通过调节CL亲水性能、梯度催化层的结构设计等优化其结构.研究表明,当CL中Nafion含量为33 wt.%,PEMFCs具有最佳的电池性能.DMFCs与PEMFCs对MEA要求不同,其阴极更容易发生水淹现象.本文结合非接触式三维光学轮廓仪、接触角测试系统和电化学测试对阴极不同Nafion含量的膜电极进行了表面形貌、亲水性、循环伏安和DMFC性能测试.本文利用喷涂法制备了GDE,然后与Nafion115热压形成MEA.由三维表面形貌图可以看出,随着催化层中Nafion含量的增加,GDE表面的粗糙度变大,尤其是N35和N45.理论上,表面粗糙有利于Pt的暴露和传质扩散,但是其电池性能并未与粗糙度呈现出正相关的关系,因为Nafion含量高于35 wt.%,Pt被Nafion过度包裹,抑制了O2至催化剂表面的传输,且随着Nafion含量由15 wt.%增加至45 wt.%,其GDE表面的接触角由166.8o减至143.1o,说明CL的亲水性增强,易导致阴极产生的水无法及时排出,从而造成阴极水淹现象.从不同Nafion含量制备MEA的CV图可以看出,随着Nafion含量的增加,
Cathode catalyst layers (CLs) with varying ionomer (Nation) contents were prepared and the direct methanol fuel cell structure and catalytic behavior were investigated as a function of ionomer content. CL roughness and thickness increased with increasing Nation content. Contact angle measurements determined that CL hydrophilicity also increased as a function of Nation content. Poor bonding between the CL, microporous layer, and the proton exchange membrane was obtained when the ionomer content was too low. The electrochemical surface areas (ESAs) were found to increase with increasing Nation content before reaching an asymptote at elevated loading levels. However, upon increasing the ionomer content above 30 wt.%, the water and oxygen mass transler properties were difficult to control. Considering the above conditions, N30 (:30 wt.% Nation) was found to be the optimal level to effectively extend the three-phase boundaries and enhance cell performance.