(506e) Ultra-Low Platinum Fuel Cells with Nanofiber/Nanoparticle Electrodes Produced Via simultaneous Needleless Electrospinning and Needle Electrospraying Technique

Decreasing platinum (Pt) content in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) without sacrificing fuel cell performance (i.e., Pt utilization) is highly desirable for fuel cell cost reduction. Pt utilization enhancements can be realized through increasing triple phase boundaries (TPBs) (i.e., junctions between Pt, ionomer, and pores) and optimizing the electrode morphology. Recent studies have revealed that nanofiber/nanoparticle electrodes increase these three-phase junctions, subsequently enhancing the fuel cell performance at ultra-low platinum loading. However, to date, there are limited studies exploring the impact of ionomer nanofiber loading in nanofiber/nanoparticle electrodes on fuel cell performance. In this study, we present a new technique of preparing nanofiber/nanoparticle electrodes via simultaneous needleless electrospinning and needle electrospraying. The amount of nanofiber was easily adjusted by varying the applied potential to the needleless electrospinning process. At a nanofiber loading of 0.16 mg cm^-2, the highest fuel cell performance was observed at an ultra-low Pt loading. The electrode morphology and performance were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and oxygen gain voltage analysis, respectively. Understanding the role of the nanofiber in the electrodes aids in the enhancement the fuel cell performance for ultra-low platinum fuel cells, providing inexpensive and high-power density electrodes toward next-generation fuel cells.