استفاده از مواد الکترود سلول سوختی تولید برق و روش های نظارت بر سنسور تنفسی الکلی

A state-of-the-art fuel cell-based breath alcohol sensor (BrAS) testing station was developed and used to test electrocatalysts typically employed in power generating fuel cells for ethanol sensing. Sensor membrane-electrode assemblies (MEAs) were prepared with 20% Pt/C electrocatalysts and their sensitivity were compared to that of a commercial BrAS MEA that employs high loadings of Pt black. Using these Pt/C sensor MEAs, we were able to achieve raw sensitivity factors that approach that of the commercial sensor despite using 97% less Pt. The design of our test cell and station enabled in situ monitoring of MEA health through cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements in an operating sensor. MEAs prepared from Pt/C display a faster rate of sensor decay compared to the commercial sensor. CV and EIS measurements confirm that this loss is due to a combination of adsorbed intermediates on the anode surface as well dehydration of the catalyst layer. Sensitivity was completely restored by simple rehydration and potential cycling.