Dual-bonded catalyst layer structure cathode for PEMFC

A new hydrophobic thin film catalyst layer for PEMFC

“…As the core component of PEM fuel cells, the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) directly impacts on the cell performance. During the past years, much effort has been paid on improving the MEA preparation [1,2,[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]. The catalyst layer (CL) plays an important role in the PEM fuel cell by means of reaction kinetics, three-phase boundary, mass-transport process, water management, and electron/proton conduction.…”

Design and investigation of dual-layer electrodes for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

“…The top Pt/C + Nafion electrode layer adhered to the Nafion electrolyte membrane pretty well without the appearance of any delamination, ensuring a low charge transfer polarization resistance during the operating process. In comparison, there were obvious cracks or delamination which appeared between the electrode and electrolyte membrane layers for the cells with the catalyst layer deposited onto GDL, as demonstrated by Zhang and Shi [18]. The thickness of the single catalyst layer with 0.4 mg cm −2 Pt loading is about 7 μm (Fig.…”

“…There are several ways to control the water balance in PEMFCs including development of self-humidifying composite membranes [3][4][5][6][7][8], improvement of catalyst layer [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20], and optimization of the gas diffusion layers (GDLs) [21][22][23]. Up to now, several researchers have successfully improved the water balance in PEMFCs by optimizing the component and structure of catalyst layers.…”

“…Su et al also demonstrated that better Pt utilization and mass transfer thus cell performance can be realized by an appropriate cathode structure. Previously, Zhang et al prepared a gas diffusion electrode (GDE) that contains a cathode with the structure of dual-bonded catalyst layers [18,19], and better cathode performance was achieved than conventional cathode with single layer PTFE or ionomer-bonded catalyst. They also investigated the Nafion content in the ionomer-bonded layer and Nafion loading in recast film between hydrophilic layer and hydrophobic layer, and found no obvious improvement in cell performance by changing Nafion content in the hydrophilic layer, while finding the cell without the recast film exhibited the best performance.…”

Experimental and theoretical study of cathode catalyst layer in PEM fuel cells

“…For example, gas diffusion, ionic and electrical conductivity, and the level of hydrophobicity of a CCL should be delicately balanced. The role of the catalyst layer in water balance has never been explored in depth either experimentally or theoretically, in contrast to the intensive research activities studying the effects of the GDL and flow field on water management (Zhang and Shi 2006;Li et al 2008). However, water balance in the CL is critical for the long-term performance and durability of PEM fuel cells.…”