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...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| 格式: | Journal article |
| 語言: | English |
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Nature Research
2024
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| _version_ | 1826317001861103616 |
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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. |
| first_indexed | 2025-02-19T04:31:40Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:7c9e5d69-ed2e-4b74-a8df-26e400bf227a |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-02-19T04:31:40Z |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| publisher | Nature Research |
| record_format | dspace |
| 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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