화학공학소재연구정보센터
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol.43, No.35, 16824-16833, 2018
Highly active screen-printed Ir-Ti4O7 anodes for proton exchange membrane electrolyzers
Electroceramic support materials can help reducing the noble-metal loading of iridium in the membrane electrodes assembly (MEA) of proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers. Highly active anodes containing Ir-black catalyst and submicronic Ti4O7 are manufactured through screen printing technique. Several vehicle solvents, including ethane 1,2-dial; propane-1,2-diol and cyclohexanol are investigated. Suitable functional anodic layer with iridium loading as low as 0.4 mg cm(-2) is obtained. Surface properties of the deposited layers are investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The most homogeneous coating with the highest electronic conductivity is obtained using cyclohexanol. Tests in PEM electrolyzer operating at 1.7 V and 40 degrees C demonstrate that the CCM with anode coated with cyclohexanol presents a 1.5-fold higher Ir-mass activity than that of the commercial CCM. (C) 2018 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.