Development of high-performance roll-to-roll-coated gas-diffusion-electrode-based fuel cells

Mauger, Scott A.; Wang, Min; Cetinbas, Firat C.; Dzara, Michael J.; Park, Jaehyung; Myers, Deborah J.; Ahluwalia, Rajesh K.; Pylypenko, Svitlana; Hu, Leiming; Litster, Shawn; Neyerlin, K. C.; Ulsh, Michael

doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2021.230039

DOE OSTI · 1788428

Development of high-performance roll-to-roll-coated gas-diffusion-electrode-based fuel cells

Mauger, Scott A.·Wang, Min·Cetinbas, Firat C.·Dzara, Michael J.·Park, Jaehyung·Myers, Deborah J.·Ahluwalia, Rajesh K.·Pylypenko, Svitlana·Hu, Leiming·Litster, Shawn·Neyerlin, K. C.·Ulsh, Michael

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Abstract

This study focuses on determining fabrication conditions to create high-performance roll-to-roll-coated (R2R-coated) gas-diffusion electrodes (GDEs) for proton-exchange-membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Here, we examine how process conditions influence the distribution of ionomer in the electrode, which is shown to be critical for high performance. Using a combination of Kelvin probe, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and nano-scale X-ray computed tomography we show that formation of an ionomer-rich surface is promoted by using a higher drying rate. We show that R2R-coated GDEs have higher surface ionomer concentration than spray-coated GDEs, which enables these R2R-coated GDEs to not need an additional ionomer overlayer, as is typically the case for spray-coated GDEs. This will reduce the number of processing steps and lower material costs in a manufacturing setting. This work shows that with the appropriate selection of materials, ink formulation, and processing conditions, direct-coated GDEs are a viable pathway for fuel cell manufacturing.

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37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY PEM fuel cells gas diffusion electrodes roll-to-roll coating slot die coating

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Mauger, Scott A., Wang, Min, Cetinbas, Firat C., Dzara, Michael J., Park, Jaehyung, Myers, Deborah J., Ahluwalia, Rajesh K., Pylypenko, Svitlana, Hu, Leiming, Litster, Shawn, Neyerlin, K. C., Ulsh, Michael. 2021-06-07. Development of high-performance roll-to-roll-coated gas-diffusion-electrode-based fuel cells. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2021.230039

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