Small-angle neutron scattering study of polymer electrolyte fuel cell; Ionomer and water adsorption in the membrane electrode assembly

中性子小角散乱による固体高分子形燃料電池の研究; 膜電極接合体中のアイオノマー及び水の分布

Putra, A.; 山口 大輔; 小泉 智

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

SANS was used to study the ionomer and water adsorption in the MEA of PEFC. Scattering maximum is so called the ionomer peak appeared at q = 0.17 which is correspond to ion cluster of nafion in the dry real MEA. In the HO-hydrated condition, the ionomer peak position shifted to the lower q, and the peak-high increased indicating adsorption of water in ion cluster. In the operating PEFC, hydrogen, H and deuterated, D gas was employed as a fuel to perform a contrast variation as for Nafion. By changing the fuel gas from H to D, SANS quantitatively detected decreasing of scattering intensity at scattering maximum originating from the ion-channel in the electrolyte. In a stationary state of fuel cell operation using D, the scattering intensity rhythmically oscillates.