Fuel Cells, Catalysts and Components from Alfa Aesar

Topics Covered

Introduction
Fuel Cell Components Products
HiSPEC™ Products
HiFUEL™ Fuel Processing Catalyst Products
Fuel Cell Components
Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC)
Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFC)
Achieving Optimum Performance of Your Fuel Cell Product
Operation Guidelines
Fuel Cell Components
HiSPEC™ Fuel Cell Catalysts
HiFUEL™ Catalysts

Introduction

Johnson Matthey has dedicated many years to developing fuel cell technology and continues to make significant investments in its fuel cell business. Consequently, Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells (JMFC) is a world leader in the design and fabrication of catalysts, catalytic components and subsystems for fuel cell applications. With a foundation of more than 50 years in research, development and manufacturing, our focus is on low temperature fuel cell components, notably Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) and Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFC).

JMFC’s HiSPEC™ catalysts consist of single and bimetallic, highly dispersed supported and unsupported catalysts used on anodes and cathodes in PEMFC and DMFC. HiSPEC catalysts are highly active and are designed and manufactured to the highest quality standards for maximum performance and durability. Products are available in several precious metal loadings and on a range of carbon supports. Large production volumes are commercially available.

Alfa Aesar is proud to introduce a new line of HiFUEL™ base metal fuel processing catalysts, which complements the HiSPEC catalyst products. A selection of Membrane Electrode Assemblies (MEAs) and other fuel cell components are also available.

Fuel Cell Components Products

Alfa Aesar can supply fuel cell components including:

• Nafion® membranes
• Toray™ Carbon Paper
• Cathodes and anodes for Hydrogen, DMFC and Reformate fuel cells
• MEAs for Hydrogen, DMFC and Reformate fuel cells

HiSPEC™ Products

Alfa Aesar can supply HISPEC fuel cell products such as:

• Pt black and Pt/Ru black (non-supported)
• Pt and Pt/Ru on standard carbon support
• Pt and Pt/Ru on high surface area carbon support

HiFUEL™ Fuel Processing Catalyst Products

Alfa Aesar can supply fuel cell processing catalysts products including:

• Base metal catalysts for reforming, water gas shift and purification
• A complementary range of HiFUEL precious metal catalysts supplied on tailored supports is also available. Please contact HIFUEL for details.

As the research chemicals arm of Johnson Matthey, Alfa Aesar offers HiSPEC and HiFUEL catalysts from stock in quantities from gram to kilo-scale. A world leader in precious metal supply and catalyst manufacturing, we are always in a position to offer competitive prices on quality fuel cell products.

Fuel Cell Components

Membrane Electrode Assemblies (MEAs) are truly the heart of the fuel cell and Alfa Aesar now offers a wide range of MEAs for Hydrogen, DMFC and Reformate fuels cells, along with fuel cell components.

Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC)

The proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell uses a polymeric membrane as the electrolyte, with platinum electrodes. These cells operate at relatively low temperatures and can vary their output to meet shifting power demands.

Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFC)

As a relatively new type of fuel cell, the direct-methanol fuel cell is similar to the PEM cell in that it uses a polymer membrane as an electrolyte. However, a catalyst on the DMFC anode draws hydrogen from liquid methanol, eliminating the need for a fuel reformer. Therefore, pure methanol can be used as fuel.

Achieving Optimum Performance of Your Fuel Cell Product

Alfa Aesar provides a range of high quality MEAs and electrodes suitable for a variety of applications and operating conditions. These products are manufactured using standardized production techniques and materials to ensure excellent reproducibility.

Operation Guidelines

The supplied fuel cell products are designed to operate under a wide range of operating conditions. The general guidelines listed below should help to avoid fuel cell operation errors.

1. The cell should always be supplied with enough fuel (and oxidant) to produce the electric current being drawn from the cell; in practice, excess should be supplied.
2. Avoid excessive differential pressures between anode and cathode, as this may damage the membrane.
3. Avoid operation at excessive temperature (>80°C), as this may damage the membrane.
4. Avoid excessive exposure to Open Circuit Voltage (OCV) as this will result in accelerated MEA degradation.
5. Avoid operating the MEAs at very high current densities.
6. When the fuel cell is not in use, purge the system to remove reactants. Otherwise, maintain fuel cell in stand-by operation by returning to the operating parameters used to break-in (or “condition”) the MEAs.
7. Any purging of the fuel cell is best done with an inert gas such as nitrogen.
8. Avoid introducing air (oxygen) to the anode electrode where possible, except for the purpose of diagnostic testing. Operation with an air bleed is not recommended as this has significant impact on the lifespan of the MEA.
9. The MEA should not be removed from the cell hardware until all testing has been completed; unnecessary compressing and re-compressing should be avoided.

Fuel Cell Components

• Nafion membranes - perfluorosulfonic acid-PTFE copolymer available in various thicknesses
• Toray Carbon paper - available in teflonated and base layered
• Cathodes and Anodes for DMFC - available from 25cm² to 100cm²
• Cathodes and Anodes for Hydrogen, and Reformate Fuel Cells - Reformate anodes and Hydrogen Electrode/Reformate cathodes from 25cm² to 100cm²

HiSPEC™ Fuel Cell Catalysts

Johnson Matthey, the world leader in fuel cell catalysts, offers the a line of catalysts specially formulated for PEM fuel cells. They have been used with success in both anodes and cathodes. The HiSPEC catalysts are all made to a consistently high quality on a commercial scale, and are readily available in gram and kilogram quantities. They are supported on a conducting high surface area carbon, and are particularly suited to the manufacture of active electrode structures.

HiFUEL™ Catalysts

Alfa Aesar now offers Johnson Matthey’s range of HiFUEL fuel processing catalysts and gas treatment products.

These base metal catalysts are ideal for use in fuel cell and other distributed hydrogen production applications. Their small size, high geometric surface areas, and high volumetric activity make them well suited to compact reactor designs. Reforming, water gas shift and purification products are available.

A complementary range of HiFUEL precious metal catalysts is also available for fuel processing applications. These catalysts are custom coated onto tailored supports for optimum performance and precious metal use. Please contact HIFUEL for details.

The HiFUEL range of catalysts complement the Johnson Matthey HiSPEC fuel cell catalyst products.

To request literature on fuel cell materials and components, please visit the Alfa Aesar website.

Source: Alfa Aesar

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