Role of Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon Nanofibers Inside Polymer Membranes for Enhancing Fuel Cell Performance

• Published in: Energy technology (Weinheim, Germany) Germany), 2018-06, Vol.6 (6), p.998-1002
• Main Authors: Jang, Jeongsoek, Lee, Jin Goo, Hwang, Ho Jung, Kwon, Ohchan, Jeon, Ok Sung, Ji, Yunseong, Shul, Yong Gun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbon fibers; carbon nanofibers; Charge transfer; electrochemistry; Electrolytic cells; Fuel cells; Fuel technology; Membranes; Nanofibers; Nitrogen; Polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) reinforced by nitrogen-doped carbon nanofibers (N-CNFs) have been studied in this work. The reinforced membrane exhibited improved mechanical strength and superior energy efficiency in fuel cell applications. Furthermore, the intrinsic sandwich structure of the reinforced PEMs could significantly reduce the probability of short circuits while retain advantageous pseudocapacitive properties. Herein, we give plausible explanations of the reason for the unprecedented high performance in PEMs reinforced by carbon materials. The N-CNFs involved in the membrane function as a pseudo-charged layer between the electrodes which is shown by the decrease in charge-transfer resistance. Such observations were confirmed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Verifications of our hypothesis were further demonstrated by a capacitance experiment of N-CNFs, which can be correlated to the governing theory of electrical impedance; Polymers; Proton exchange membrane fuel cells; pseudocapacitors
• ISSN: 2194-4288; 2194-4296
• DOI: 10.1002/ente.201700642

Role‐playing: The pseudo‐capacitive behavior of a membrane reinforced by nitrogen‐doped carbon nanofibers (N‐CNF) reduces the charge‐transfer resistances in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), which, in turn, enhances their power density.