Small angle neutron scattering and Cryo Scanning Electron Microscopy study of water in the polymer electrolyte fuel cell

Putra, A.; Yamaguchi, Daisuke; Koizumi, Satoshi

Small-Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) and Cryo Scanning Electron Microscopy (Cryo-SEM) method was used to study the ionomer and water adsorption in the polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC). Beside nafion 212, Polytetra fluoroethylene, PTFE membrane was also used as based membrane in the Membrane electrode assemble (MEA) to study the ion cluster and adsorption of water at the carbon support catalyst layer. In order to vary a contrast variation in the electrolyte, the MEA was immersed in deuterated water (DO) and HO/DO mixture prior to SANS measurement. It was found that SANS and Cryo-SEM method was capable to detect and visualize water microscopically in a membrane electrode assembly (MEA).