Scientists have developed a quicker method to make multilayered electrodes for fuel cells. Led by Marc Michel, a team based at Darmstadt University, Germany, used a sprayed layer-by-layer method to assemble the electrodes for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. PEM fuel cells split hydrogen into protons and electrons at the anode using a platinum catalyst. The protons travel through a polyelectrolyte membrane to the cathode, where they react with oxygen to form water. For high performance, the polyelectrolyte must be permeable to protons but not electrons and the catalyst's structure must allow the hydrogen and protons to diffuse easily through it.
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