Drying Process Monitoring of Nanoparticle Mixed Electrolyte by Measurements of Electrical Resistance and Liquid Surface Displacement

Abstract

Measurement of electrical resistance, liquid level displacement, and surface observation was applied on ionomer and silica nanoparticle dispersion to clarify the effect of the materials on the proton conductivity. The electrical resistance of the catalyst ink used for fabrication of catalyst layers of polymer electrolyte fuel cells is determined by both electron and proton transport properties. They are affected by the state of the catalyst ink. Therefore, the fundamental understanding of the proton conductivity variation during the drying process of the slurry is important to use the electrical resistance measurement for the sensing tool of the catalyst ink. The measurement showed that silica nanoparticles affect proton transport properties in the slurry when the particle concentration was increased.