Ni-PTFE 복합도금기술을 이용한 알칼리형 연료전지용 전극 제조

Preparation of Electrode Using Ni-PTFE Composite Plating for Alkaline Fuel Cell

Ni-PTFE composite plated on graphite (C/Ni-PTFE) and PTFE (PTFE/Ni-PTFE) particles were prepared uniformly by electroless composite plating. The conductivity of C/Ni-PTFE particles was 280 S/m higher than 95 S/m of PTFE/Ni-PTFE particles at same composite plating condition (Ni:35~36 wt%, PTFE:8 wt%). The C/Ni-PTFE particles were formed into the C/Ni-PTFE plate using heat treatment at $350^{\circ}C$ under 10~$1000\;kg/cm^2$. The C/Ni-PTFE plate showed 1) high conductivity of $5.7\;{\times}\;10^4\;S/m$ due to the existence of graphite as conducting aid and the formation of 3-dimensional Ni network 2) good gas diffusion caused by various pore volumes (0.01~$100\;{\mu}m$) in the plate. The plate could be useful for an electrode in an alkaline fuel cell (AFC). The current density of C/Ni-PTFE electrode indicated $84\;mA/cm^2$ at 0.3V and it was 3.0 times higher than that of PTFE/Ni-PTFE electrode.