Membrane-Electrode Assemblies with Patterned Electrodes for Proton-exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

摘要

A spray-coated membrane-electrode assembly (SMEA) and two types of inkjet-printed MEAs (GMEA and GVMEA) are investigated as proton-exchange membrane fuel cells. GMEA possesses a gas channel-shaped catalyst electrode for the flow field; GVMEA is composed of this and a rib-shaped Vulcan electrode. The GVMEA peak specific power density increased by 35% relative to SMEA, though it possessed 60% of the Pt amount. The Vulcan electrode plays a crucial role in protonic, electronic, and gas transport for improved fuel cell performance.