Effect of Catalyst Ink and Formation Process on the Multiscale Structure of Catalyst Layers in PEM Fuel Cells

The structure of a catalyst layer (CL) significantly impacts the performance, durability, and cost proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells is influenced by ink CL formation process. However, relationship between composition, formulation, preparation process still not completely understood. This review, therefore, focuses on effect structure. depends microstructure macroscopic properties ink, which are decided catalyst, ionomer, or solvent(s) their ratios, addition order, dispersion. To form well-defined CL, substrate, coating process, drying need to be well understood optimized match each other. understand this relationship, promote continuous scalable production electrode assemblies, guarantee consistency CLs produced, further efforts devoted investigating (especially with high solid content), reversibility aged Furthermore, except for certain variables studied, other manufacturing processes conditions also require attention avoid inconsistent conclusions.