Abstract
Nanoimprint lithography (NIL) was used to fabricate electrodes with high specific Pt surface areas for use in micro-fuel cell devices. The Pt catalyst structures were characterized electrochemically using cyclic voltammetry and were found to have electrochemical active surface areas (EAS) ranging from 0.8 to 1.5 m2 g-1 Pt. These NIL catalyst structures were tested in fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) by directly embossing a Nafion 117 membrane. The features of the mold were successfully transferred to the Nafion and a 7.5 nm thin film of Pt was deposited at a wide angle to form the anode catalyst layer. The resulting MEA yielded a very high Pt utilization of 15,375 mW mg-1 Pt compared to conventionally prepared MEAs (820 mW mg-1 Pt). Embossing pattern transfer was also demonstrated for spin casted Nafion films which could be used for new applications.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 218-223 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Journal of Power Sources |
Volume | 171 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 19 2007 |
Keywords
- Electrode
- Embossing
- Micro-fuel cell
- Nafion
- Nanoimprint lithography
- Thin film catalyst
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
- Energy Engineering and Power Technology
- Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering