Laser scribed proton exchange membranes for enhanced fuel cell performance and stability

High-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs) offer solutions to challenges intrinsic to low-temperature PEMFCs, such as complex water management, fuel inflexibility, and thermal integration. However, they are hindered by phosphoric acid (PA) leaching and catalyst migration, which...

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Glavni autori: Chen, J, Lu, X, Wang, L, Du, W, Guo, H, Rimmer, M, Zhai, H, Liu, Y, Shearing, PR, Haigh, SJ, Holmes, SM, Miller, TS
Format: Journal article
Jezik:English
Izdano: Nature Research 2024
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author Chen, J
Lu, X
Wang, L
Du, W
Guo, H
Rimmer, M
Zhai, H
Liu, Y
Shearing, PR
Haigh, SJ
Holmes, SM
Miller, TS
author_facet Chen, J
Lu, X
Wang, L
Du, W
Guo, H
Rimmer, M
Zhai, H
Liu, Y
Shearing, PR
Haigh, SJ
Holmes, SM
Miller, TS
author_sort Chen, J
collection OXFORD
description High-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs) offer solutions to challenges intrinsic to low-temperature PEMFCs, such as complex water management, fuel inflexibility, and thermal integration. However, they are hindered by phosphoric acid (PA) leaching and catalyst migration, which destabilize the critical three-phase interface within the membrane electrode assembly (MEA). This study presents an innovative approach to enhance HT-PEMFC performance through membrane modification using picosecond laser scribing, which optimises the three-phase interface by forming a graphene-like structure that mitigates PA leaching. Our results demonstrate that laser-induced modification of PA-doped membranes, particularly on the cathode side, significantly enhances the performance and durability of HT-PEMFCs, achieving a peak power density of 817.2 mW cm⁻² after accelerated stress testing, representing a notable 58.2% increase compared to untreated membranes. Furthermore, a comprehensive three-dimensional multi-physics model, based on X-ray micro-computed tomography data, was employed to visualise and quantify the impact of this laser treatment on the dynamic electrochemical processes within the MEA. Hence, this work provides both a scalable methodology to stabilise an important future membrane technology, and a clear mechanistic understanding of how this targeted laser modification acts to optimise the three-phase interface of HT-PEMFCs, which can have impact across a wide array of applications.
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spelling oxford-uuid:7c9e5d69-ed2e-4b74-a8df-26e400bf227a2025-01-08T20:03:50ZLaser scribed proton exchange membranes for enhanced fuel cell performance and stabilityJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:7c9e5d69-ed2e-4b74-a8df-26e400bf227aEnglishJisc Publications RouterNature Research2024Chen, JLu, XWang, LDu, WGuo, HRimmer, MZhai, HLiu, YShearing, PRHaigh, SJHolmes, SMMiller, TSHigh-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs) offer solutions to challenges intrinsic to low-temperature PEMFCs, such as complex water management, fuel inflexibility, and thermal integration. However, they are hindered by phosphoric acid (PA) leaching and catalyst migration, which destabilize the critical three-phase interface within the membrane electrode assembly (MEA). This study presents an innovative approach to enhance HT-PEMFC performance through membrane modification using picosecond laser scribing, which optimises the three-phase interface by forming a graphene-like structure that mitigates PA leaching. Our results demonstrate that laser-induced modification of PA-doped membranes, particularly on the cathode side, significantly enhances the performance and durability of HT-PEMFCs, achieving a peak power density of 817.2 mW cm⁻² after accelerated stress testing, representing a notable 58.2% increase compared to untreated membranes. Furthermore, a comprehensive three-dimensional multi-physics model, based on X-ray micro-computed tomography data, was employed to visualise and quantify the impact of this laser treatment on the dynamic electrochemical processes within the MEA. Hence, this work provides both a scalable methodology to stabilise an important future membrane technology, and a clear mechanistic understanding of how this targeted laser modification acts to optimise the three-phase interface of HT-PEMFCs, which can have impact across a wide array of applications.
spellingShingle Chen, J
Lu, X
Wang, L
Du, W
Guo, H
Rimmer, M
Zhai, H
Liu, Y
Shearing, PR
Haigh, SJ
Holmes, SM
Miller, TS
Laser scribed proton exchange membranes for enhanced fuel cell performance and stability
title Laser scribed proton exchange membranes for enhanced fuel cell performance and stability
title_full Laser scribed proton exchange membranes for enhanced fuel cell performance and stability
title_fullStr Laser scribed proton exchange membranes for enhanced fuel cell performance and stability
title_full_unstemmed Laser scribed proton exchange membranes for enhanced fuel cell performance and stability
title_short Laser scribed proton exchange membranes for enhanced fuel cell performance and stability
title_sort laser scribed proton exchange membranes for enhanced fuel cell performance and stability
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AT lux laserscribedprotonexchangemembranesforenhancedfuelcellperformanceandstability
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AT guoh laserscribedprotonexchangemembranesforenhancedfuelcellperformanceandstability
AT rimmerm laserscribedprotonexchangemembranesforenhancedfuelcellperformanceandstability
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