Self-adjusting anode catalyst layer for smart water management in anion exchange membrane fuel cells
Junfeng Zhang, Yang Liu, Weikang Zhu, Yabiao Pei, Yan Yin, Yanzhou Qin, Xianguo Li, Michael D. Guiver
Abstract
Water management in the anode catalyst layer (ACL) during fuel cell operation is of importance to the performance of anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs). Until now, only a few methods, such as controlling external conditions and adjusting other components like the gas diffusion layer (GDL), attempt to indirectly regulate water content within the ACL. Here, we report a self-regulating ACL having stratified, gradient pore sizes from 8 nm (membrane side) to 150 nm (GDL side). Self-regulating moisture behavior was observed for the gradient ACL, constituted individually of Pt/C layer and PtRu/C layer, which was distinctly different than that from catalyst layers (CLs) composed of homogeneous catalysts (Pt/C CL, PtRu/C CL, and mixed CL). The results of this study are anticipated to give an insight into the design of CLs with smart structures for improving AEMFC performance.