Electrochemical Technologies Group
Recent Developments and Issues for MEA Test Plan
By
Thomas I. ValdezJet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
NASA FUEL CELL MEETING Hyatt Regency San Francisco at Embarcadero Center
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2005
Electrochemical Technologies Group
Presentation Outline
JPLs Role and Responsibilities for the NASA ECP Program Task Overview Program Schedule
NaBH4/H2O2 Test Stand Test Stand Components DAQ GUI
NaBH4/H2O2 MEA Testing Experimental Voltage-Time Plot Resistance-Time Plot Hydrogen Peroxide Cathode Performance (CH3OH/H2O2 System)
ECP Program Status Accomplishments Program Schedule Detail Future Work
Electrochemical Technologies Group
JPL Task Overview
Technical Objectives of Phase-I Characterize state-of-art NaBH4/H2O2 fuel cells Evaluate new materials supplied by partners for improving reactant regeneration
in NaBH4/H2O2 regenerative fuel cells Test a NaBH4/H2O2 regeneration fuel cell based system fabricated by the industry
team members Support the development of a preliminary system design for kW-class
regenerative NaBH4/H2O2 fuel cell based power source Technical Objectives of Phase-II
Characterize the performance of a kW-class NaBH4/H2O2 regeneration fuel cell system fabricated by the industry team members
Electrochemical Technologies Group
Phase I Project Schedule1. NaBH4/H2O2 Test Stand Development2. NaBH4/H2O2 Cell Testing3. Design of 10W Regenerative NaBH4/H2O2 System4. Testing of 10W Regenerative NaBH4/H2O2 System5. Design kW-Class Regenerative System
Electrochemical Technologies Group
NaBH4/H2O2 Test Stand
Electrochemical Technologies Group
Test Stand GUI
Electrochemical Technologies GroupM
embr
ane
- +
Direct DepositCatalyst(Spray)
Type 1
Porous Toray 060Backing 25 cm2
Experimental
MEA Specifications Fabricated via a JPL direct deposit
technique Non-Teflonized Toray 030 paper used
for the electrode backing Cell Electrode Area: 25-cm2
Nafion 105 PEM Fuel Cell Grade Pt-Black catalyst used
for the cathode Pt:Ru/RuO2 (50:50/100) catalyst mix
used for the anodeReactant Specifications Fuel: 5% NaBH4 (Alfa-Aesar) diluted
in a 25% NaOH solution (J. T. Baker) Oxidant: 5% H2O2 stabilized -CMOS
grade solution (J. T. Baker) All solutions were diluted with 18.2
mΩ water.2
2
Electrochemical Technologies Group
NaBH4/H2O2 MEA Testing, Voltage-Time
Electrochemical Technologies Group
NaBH4/H2O2 MEA Testing, Resistance-Time
Electrochemical Technologies Group
Methanol-Hydrogen Peroxide Studies: Cathode Evaluation
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
10 100 1000
Current Density (mA/cm2)
Cel
l Pot
entia
l vs.
NHE
(V)
Ec,mix
Ea
7 M
3.2 M4.7 M
3.2 M ~ 3% H202
4.7 M ~ 11% H202
7 M ~ 16.5% H202
30 oC
Electrochemical Technologies Group
ECP Program Status: Summary of Accomplishments
Programmatic4.1.1 NaBH4/H2O2 Fuel Cell Fabrication
4.1.1.1 Fuel cell fabrication review, UIUC (Complete)4.1.1.2 Fuel cell fabrication review complete (Complete)4.1.1.3 Receive catalysts from UIUC, Swift, ASU (50% Complete)4.1.1.4 Catalyst received from UIUC, Swift, ASU4.1.1.5 Develop MEA fabrication techniques specific to NaBH4/H2O2 (25%
Complete)4.1.2 NaBH4/H2O2 Fuel Cell Testing
4.1.2.1 Modify DMFC single cell test stand to for NaBH4/H2O2 testing (Complete)
Other Work We participated in the June 26th fuel cell fabrication review workshop held at UIUC. JPL submitted presentation on fuel cell fabrication techniques and hydrogen peroxide
experimentation. UIUC MEA Fabrication Review Action Item: Determine the temperature profile for an
orbiter traveling from Earth to Lunar orbit as well as the temperature profile for a landed Lunar payload.
Electrochemical Technologies Group
ECP Program Status: Phase I Project Schedule (Detail)
Electrochemical Technologies Group
ECP Program Status: Future Work
3 Construction and Characterization of 10 W Regenerative NaBH4/H2O2 Fuel Cell3.1 Design and fabrication of 10 W regenerative fuel cell (To Be Initiated)3.1.1 Modify JPL FC models for NaBH4/H2O2 systems (To Be Initiated)
4 Catalyst/NaBH4 Optimization4.1 Experiments with catalysts for positive and negative discharge electrodes4.1.1 NaBH4/H2O2 Fuel Cell Fabrication
4.1.1.3 Receive catalysts from UIUC, Swift, ASU (50% Complete) (Catalyst formulations received)
4.1.1.4 Catalyst received from UIUC, Swift, ASU (In Progress)4.1.1.5 Develop MEA fabrication techniques specific to NaBH4/H2O2 (In Progress)
4.1.2 NaBH4/H2O2 Fuel Cell Testing4.1.2.1 Modify DMFC single cell test stand to for NaBH4/H2O2 testing (Complete)4.1.2.2 Complete modifications to DMFC single cell test stand (Complete)4.1.2.3 NaBH4/H2O2 MEA characterization and analysis, initial studies (In
Progress)- Voltage-Current Performance- Characterize Fuel/Oxidant Utilization- Characterize Fuel/Oxidant Regeneration
Electrochemical Technologies Group
Acknowledgement
The work presented here was carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. This research was sponsored by NASA under a ESMD program.
