Choi, Daeil Jang, Jue-Hyuk Lee, Dong Wook Kang, Yun Sik Jin, Haneul Lee, Kwan-Young Yoo, Sung Jong 2024-01-19T14:33:43Z 2024-01-19T14:33:43Z 2021-10-21 2021-05-15 0378-7753 https://pubs.kist.re.kr/handle/201004/116992 Efficient water management is considered a prerequisite to advance the commercialization of anion exchange membrane fuel cells because water imbalance not only results in flooding and drying issues in the electrodes, but also leads to performance degradation. Herein, strategic electrode structures to achieve desirable water behavior during operation are reported. Carbon supports are employed as reservoirs to store the produced water and as carbon-supported catalysts with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), possessing hydrophobic characteristics at the operating temperatures, as the polymer entangles by itself. This polymer is preferentially functionalized on the carbon surface before the reduction of the precursors to minimize the blocking of the catalyst active sites. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electrochemical analyses support that the electronic structures of the catalysts are not significantly affected even when the polymer is functionalized. Furthermore, the synergistic effect of the reservoir and thermo-responsive polymer is demonstrated in a real device exhibiting performance enhancement. The resulting electrode shows 11.9% increase in the current density at 0.6 V and 21.3% increase in the maximum power density compared to those observed with the conventional electrodes. This phenomenon is attributed to favorable water distribution, as confirmed by in-situ visualization via synchrotron X-ray imaging. English ELSEVIER Strategic design for promoting water behavior via ensemble of thermo-responsive polymer functionalized catalysts and reservoir carbon in anion exchange membrane fuel cells Article 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2021.229738 1 JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES, v.494 JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES 494 scie scopus 000636270300001 2-s2.0-85102614826 Chemistry, Physical Electrochemistry Energy & Fuels Materials Science, Multidisciplinary Chemistry Electrochemistry Energy & Fuels Materials Science Article OXYGEN REDUCTION HYDROGEN OXIDATION PERFORMANCE HYDROXIDE ELECTRODE ELECTROCATALYSTS MICROSTRUCTURE GRAPHENE DIOXIDE STATE Anion exchange membrane fuel cells Thermo-responsive polymer Water management Flooding and drying Favorable water behavior