Ionomer distribution control via thiophene S-modification of carbon support for high-power proton exchange membrane fuel cells.

ABSTRACT: Achieving a significant reduction in the cost of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is an imminent goal, and decreasing the overall platinum loading in the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is regarded as a critical means to achieve this objective. However, as the Pt loading decreases, the MEA performance drops sharply, which is mainly impeded by the mass transport resistance at the triple phase boundaries (TPBs) for O₂ and H⁺ to reach the catalyst active site through the ionomer. In this research, we propose an effective strategy to achieve precise control of the three-phase microenvironment within catalyst layer by introducing thiophene sulfur (C-S-C) species onto the surface of the carbon support. FIB/slice-STEM EDX mapping (STEM-EDX mapping of focused io

SUBMITTER: Zhang S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12749632 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature