MEA Preparation Methods

Fuel cell technology is currently undergoing large-scale development. One of the most important factors restricting the development of fuel cells is their high manufacturing cost. MEA is the core component of fuel cell and the main site of electrochemical reaction. The overall performance output of the battery mainly depends on MEA. And the cost of MEA accounts for about 30%-50% of the cost of fuel cells. As a key component for improving fuel cell performance and reducing costs, the research and development of membrane electrode products has been valued by companies and R&D institutions in various countries. Internationally, Toyota in Japan, Ballard in Canada, BASF in Germany, Gore in the United States, and Johnson & Johnson in the United Kingdom Multinational companies such as companies have invested heavily in the development and research of MEA.

At present, the research work of MEA is mainly based on the two structures of GDE-membrane and CCM-GDL, which have different characteristics. GDE-membrane is characterized by simple production process but high catalyst loading capacity, average electrochemical performance, serious catalyst loss, delamination between membrane and catalytic layer, etc., which lead to short battery life and other reasons. This structure is not suitable for the actual MEA. Application and promotion, so most mathematicians only use it to characterize catalyst performance. The MEA prepared with the CCM-GDL structure not only has better performance, but also has an order of magnitude less load. Low platinum or no platinum is a key factor for the mass promotion of fuel cells. In addition, the CCM-GDL structure tightly combines the catalytic layer and the PEM membrane, which can effectively prevent the MEA from causing the membrane’s dry and wet changes during long-term opening, closing, and running operations to cause the catalytic layer to peel off.

MEA preparation methods are generally divided into three types, contact (scratch coating, screen printing, brush coating, etc.), non-contact (electrostatic spraying, ultrasonic spraying, pneumatic spraying, deposition method), indirect (thin layer electrode Method, redox method). The MEA preparation method of CCM structure is the most practical preparation method by spraying method, because the contact preparation method has not yet solved this technical problem due to the swelling characteristics of Nafion membrane, and the MEA of the indirect preparation method is not reproducible and the process is cumbersome.

MEA is the core component of fuel cell and the main site of electrochemical reaction. Ultrasonic spraying can accurately control the Nafion content in the membrane electrode catalytic layer, reduce the thickness of the catalytic layer, and optimize the composition and structure of the MEA anode diffusion layer, and it allows large areas to be coated at high-speed with only minimal loss to coat catalyst suspension.

Cheersonic has committed to the research and development of various ultrasonic equipment for more than ten years. UAM4000L, UAM6000 and UAM8000 developed by our company is basic, programmable micro material spray coating system. Various types of catalysts suspensions including the carbon black ink, PTFE binder, ceramic slurry, platinum and other precious metal can be sprayed by using these equipment. Cheersonic ultrasonic dispersion syringe pump is 25 ml glass syringe standard, by controlling module delivers electrical impulses to generate ultrasonic vibrations inside of syringe body, and duration and intensity of ultrasonic vibrations is user controlled to completely disperse and hold particles evenly suspended in solution for up to several hours.

About Cheersonic

Cheersonic is the leading developer and manufacturer of ultrasonic coating systems for applying precise, thin film coatings to protect, strengthen or smooth surfaces on parts and components for the microelectronics/electronics, alternative energy, medical and industrial markets, including specialized glass applications in construction and automotive.

Our coating solutions are environmentally-friendly, efficient and highly reliable, and enable dramatic reductions in overspray, savings in raw material, water and energy usage and provide improved process repeatability, transfer efficiency, high uniformity and reduced emissions.

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