Elucidation of catalytic deterioration mechanism under start up and shut down process of polymer electrolyte fuel cell by in-situ three-dimensional space observation

• Project/Area Number: 15K17807
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Physical chemistry
• Research Institution: The University of Electro-Communications
• Principal Investigator: Higashi Kotaro 電気通信大学, 燃料電池イノベーション研究センター, 特任助教 (70721249)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2016)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,160,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥960,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥2,860,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥660,000)
• Keywords: 固体高分子形燃料電池 / X線吸収微細構造 / CT / その場観察 / 固体高分子型燃料電池 / XAFS / in situ/operando

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The degradation of the cathode electrode catalyst by the start up and shut down process is one of pressing problems in polymer electrolyte fuel cell.
The catalyst degradation is spread in the whole space with patches. However the cause and mechanism of this degradation don't become clear in detail.
In this research, the catalyst degradation depends on the start up and shut down process was analyzed under the in-situ (operand) three dimensional space, use XCT-XAFS (X-ray computerized tomograph X-ray absorption fine structure).

Research Products

• [Presentation] In-situ time-resolved XAFS study on the degradation of Pt/C and Pt3Co/C cathode catalysts in polymer electrolyte fuel cell by feed gas exchange cycles. (2015)
  • Author(s): Kotaro Higashi, Gabor Samjeske, Shinobu Takao, Shin-ichi Nagamatsu, Kensaku Nagasawa, Oki Sekizawa, Takuma Kaneko, Tomoya Uruga, Yasuhiro Iwasawa
  • Organizer: Pacifichem 2015
  • Place of Presentation: Hawaii Convention Center, Hawaii, USA
  • Year and Date: 2015-12-15
  • Int'l Joint Research