A Recyclable Standalone Microporous Layer with Interpenetrating Network for Sustainable Fuel Cells

Abstract

The commercialization of fuel cells inevitably brings recycling problems. Therefore, achieving high recyclability of fuel cells is particularly important for their sustainable development. In this work, a recyclable standalone microporous layer (standalone MPL) with interpenetrating network that can significantly enhance the recyclability and sustainability of fuel cells is prepared. The interpenetrating network enables the standalone MPL to have high strength (17.7 MPa), gas permeability (1.55 × 10−13 m2), and fuel‐cell performance (peak power density 1.35 W cm−2), providing the basic guarantee for its application in high‐performance and highly recyclable fuel cells. Additionally, the standalone MPL is highly adaptable to various gas‐diffusion backings (GDBs), providing high possibility to select highly recyclable GDBs. Outstandingly, anode standalone MPLs and GDBs can be easily detached from the spent membrane electrode assembly (MEA). This not only saves >90 vol% solvent in the recovery of the catalyst‐coated membrane (CCM), but also extends the service life of the GDBs and the anode standalone MPL at least 138 times (2 760 000 h assuming 20 000 h of CCM) comparing to CCM. Therefore, the standalone MPL significantly enhances the recyclability and sustainability of fuel cells and is promising to be an indispensable component in the next‐generation fuel cells.

Hydrophobized electrospun nanofibers of hierarchical porosity as the integral gas diffusion electrode for full-pH CO2 electroreduction in membrane electrode assemblies

“…Ionomers such as the anionic poly-sulfonic acid and cationic poly-imidazolium used to bind catalysts to the underneath MPL also impose some adverse issues on the conventional GDEs. 16,17 Due to the lack of strong bonding, the MPL/CL interface can be quickly eroded, especially under harsh electrolytic conditions, resulting in physical detachment of the catalytic sites from the MPL. Moreover, the binders may mask the active sites, blockade CO 2 from the back flow, and intercept the electron transfer, limiting both the mass and charge kinetics of the CO 2 RR.…”