The development of a novel approach to achieve high-performance and durable fuel cells is imperative for the further commercialization of proton-exchange (or polymer electrolyte) membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). In this work, multifunctional dendritic Nafion/CeO2 structures were introduced onto the cathode side of the interface between a membrane and a catalyst layer through electrospray deposition. The dendritic structures enlarged the interfacial contact area between the membrane and the catalyst layer and formed microscale voids between the catalyst layer and gas diffusion medium. This improved the PEMFC performance through the effective utilization of the catalyst and enhanced mass transport of the reactant. Especially, under low-humidity conditions, the hygroscopic effect of CeO2 nanoparticles also boosted the power density of PEMFCs. In addition to the beneficial effects on the efficiency of the PEMFC, the incorporation of CeO2, widely known as a radical scavenger, effectively mitigated the free-radical attack on the outer surface of the membrane, where chemical degradation is initiated by radicals formed during PEMFC operation. These multifunctional effects of the dendritic Nafion/CeO2 structures on PEMFC performance and durability were investigated using various in situ and ex situ measurement techniques.
Keywords: CeO2 nanoparticle; dendritic structure; electrospray deposition; polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell; radical scavenger.