연구개발한 고분자전해질연료전지(PEMFC)의 막과 전극합체(MEA)의 상용화를 위해서는 내구성 확보가 매우 중요하다. 정치용 PEMFC MEA의 내구평가는 정전류 조건에서 전압변화 속도를 1000시간이상 장시간 측정해야하는 문제점이 있다. 본 연구에서는 내구평가시간을 단축시키기 위해 차량용 MEA에 적용하고 있는 고분자막의 전기화학적 내구 평가 프로토콜(OCV 유지법)을 정치용 MEA 내구 평가에 적용하였다. OCV, cathode 산소, 90 °C, 상대습도 30% 조건에서 정치용과 차량용 MEA를 각각 168시간 구동 후에 I-V, LSV, CV, 임피던스, FER 등을 측정해서 비교하였다. 열화 후 전해질 막의 내구성을 나타내는 수소투과도, OCV 변화, 이온전도도, 불소유출량 등을 모두 검토했을 때 정치용이 차량용보다 내구성이 더 좋음을 보였다. 그리고 전극열화도 정치용 MEA가 작아서 정치용 MEA가 고분자막과 전극 모두 차량용보다 내구성이 우수함을 차량용 프로토콜에 의해 짧은 시간에 평가할 수 있었다.

Durability is very important for the commercialization of membranes and electrode assemblies (MEA) developed for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). Durability evaluation of stationary PEMFC MEA has a problem that the voltage change rate should be measured for a long time over 1000 hours under constant current conditions. In this study, the electrochemical durability evaluation protocol of membranes (OCV holding method) using to vehicle MEAs was applied to the stationary MEA for the purpose of shortening the durability evaluation time. After operation of the stationary and automobile MEA for 168 hours under conditions of OCV, cathode oxygen, 90 °C and relative humidity of 30%, I-V, LSV, CV, impedance and FER were measured and compared. When the hydrogen permeability, OCV change, ionic conductivity, and fluorine flow rate, which represent the durability of the membrane after degradation, were all examined, it was shown that durability of stationary MEA membrane was better than that of vehicles MEA membrane. In addition, the electrode degradation of stationary MEA was smaller than that of vehicles MEA after degradation operation. It was possible to evaluate in a short time using automotive protocol that the durability of stationary MEA was superior that of vehicle MEA in terms of membrane and the electrode.

PEMFC Durability Membrane Stationary MEA OCV Holding

Laconti AB, Hamdan M, MacDonald RC, Handbook of Fuel Cells: Fundamentals Technology and and Applications, Vol. 3, John Wiley & Sons Ltd., Chichester, England, 611-612(2003).
Peighambardoust SJ, Rowshanzamir S, Amjadi M, Int. J. Hydrog. Energy, 35(17), 9349 (2010)
Venturelli L, Santangelo PE, Tartarini P, Appl. Therm. Eng., 29(17-18), 3469 (2009)
https://www1.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/fuelcells/pdfs/component_durability_profile.pdf, “Doe Cell Component Accelerated Stress Test Protocols For Pem Fuel Cells.”
Daido University, Ritsumeikian Univ., NEDO, Development of PEFC Technologies for Commercial Promotion-PEFC Evaluation Project, January 30(2014).
Kurtz J, Dinh H, Saur G, Ainscough C, DOE 2017 Annual Merit Review, Washington, DC, June 8, 27 page(2017).
Liu D, Case S, J. Power Sources, 162(1), 521 (2006)
Hwang B, Chung HB, Lee MS, Lee DH, Park K, Korean Chem. Eng. Res., 54(5), 593 (2016)
Hwang BC, Oh SH, Lee MS, Lee DH, Park KP, Korean J. Chem. Eng., 35(11), 2290 (2018)
Song J, Kim S, Ahn B, Ko J, Park K, Korean Chem. Eng. Res., 51(1), 68 (2013)
Andrew NR, Knights SD, Ballard Power System Inc., US Patent, 0136308(2005).