Fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies fabricated by layer-by-layer electrostatic self-assembly techniques

André D. Taylor, Marc Michel, Ryan C. Sekol, Jeremy M. Kizuka, Nicholas A. Kotov, Levi T. Thompson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

High activity, carbon supported Pt electrocatalysts were synthesized using a supercritical fluid method and a selective heterogeneous nucleation reaction to disperse Pt onto single walled carbon nanotube and carbon fiber supports. These nanocomposite materials were then incorporated into catalyst and gas diffusion layers consisting of polyelectrolytes, i.e., Nafion, polyaniline, and polyethyleneimine using layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly techniques. Due to the ultrathin nature and excellent homogeneity characteristics of LBL materials, the LBL nanocomposite catalyst layers (LNCLs) yielded much higher Pt utilizations, 3,198 mW mgpt-1, than membrane electrode assemblies produced using conventional methods (∼800mW mgPt-1). Thinner membranes (100 bilayers) can further improve the performance of the LNCLs and these layers can function as catalyzed gas diffusion layers for the anode and cathode of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3003-3009
Number of pages7
JournalAdvanced Functional Materials
Volume18
Issue number19
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 9 2008

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Materials Science
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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