Structure, Property, and Performance of Catalyst Layers in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Jian Zhao; Huiyuan Liu; Xianguo Li

doi:10.1007/s41918-022-00175-1

Electrochemical Energy Reviews ›› 2023, Vol. 6 ›› Issue (1) DOI: 10.1007/s41918-022-00175-1

Review Article

Structure, Property, and Performance of Catalyst Layers in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

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¹Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, N2L 3G1, Waterloo, ON, Canada

^c xianguo.li@uwaterloo.ca

Jian Zhao

is a postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo. He obtained his Ph.D. degree at the University of Waterloo (2019), Masters’ degree at Tianjin University (2013), and Bachelor’s degree at Dalian University of Technology (2010). He served as the secretary and local organizing committee member of the 2019, 2020, and 2021 World Fuel Cell Conference (WFCC) as well as the secretary and international advisory committee member of the 13th International Green Energy Conference (IGEC-XIII). Since 2019, he has served as an assistant editor for the International Journal of Green Energy. His research interests include advanced experimental and numerical techniques for fuel cells and other green energy systems. His research interests include advanced experimental and numerical techniques for fuel cells and other green energy systems.

Huiyuan Liu

received her Ph.D. degree in Physical Chemistry from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2019. She is now a postdoctoral fellow in University of Waterloo. Her research interests focus on the synthesis of morphology- and structure-controlled Pt-based electrocatalysts by designing reaction system and at large-scale production, as well as the fabrication of conventional membrane electrodes and novel membrane electrodes with ultra-thin ordered catalyst layers for PEMFCs.

Xianguo Li

is a Professor and a University Research Chair at the University of Waterloo, Canada. He obtained Master (1986) and PhD (1989) degrees from Northwestern University, USA, and BEng from Tianjin University, China. He is the Editor-in-Chief for the International Journal of Green Energy; President of Fuel Cell Division, International Association for Hydrogen Energy (IAHE); Vice President, Technical Program, Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering (CSME). He is a Fellow of Canadian Academy of Engineering (FCAE), Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Engineering (FEIC), and Fellow of CSME. His field of research interest includes green energy systems, thermodynamics, fluid flow, heat and mass transfer, propulsion and power generation systems and devices, including hydrogen fuel cells, combustion engines, liquid atomization and sprays. He is the Chair of World Fuel Cell Conference and founding Chair of International Green Energy Conference.

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Abstract

Catalyst layer (CL) is the core component of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, which determines the performance, durability, and cost. However, difficulties remain for a thorough understanding of the CLs’ inhomogeneous structure, and its impact on the physicochemical and electrochemical properties, operating performance, and durability. The inhomogeneous structure of the CLs is formed during the manufacturing process, which is sensitive to the associated materials, composition, fabrication methods, procedures, and conditions. The state-of-the-art visualization and characterization techniques are crucial to examine the CL structure. The structure-dependent physicochemical and electrochemical properties are then thoroughly scrutinized in terms of fundamental concepts, theories, and recent progress in advanced experimental techniques. The relation between the CL structure and the associated effective properties is also examined based on experimental and theoretical findings. Recent studies indicated that the CL inhomogeneous structure also strongly affects the performance and degradation of the whole fuel cell, and thus, the interconnection between the fuel cell performance, failure modes, and CL structure is comprehensively reviewed. An analytical model is established to understand the effect of the CL structure on the effective properties, performance, and durability of the PEM fuel cells. Finally, the challenges and prospects of the CL structure-associated studies are highlighted for the development of high-performing PEM fuel cells.

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Jian Zhao, Huiyuan Liu, Xianguo Li. Structure, Property, and Performance of Catalyst Layers in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells. Electrochemical Energy Reviews, 2023, 6(1): DOI:10.1007/s41918-022-00175-1