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Title: Gravure Coating for Roll-to-Roll Manufacturing of Proton-Exchange-Membrane Fuel Cell Catalyst Layers

Journal Article · · Journal of the Electrochemical Society
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/2.0091813jes· OSTI ID:1469412
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In this study, we demonstrate gravure coating as a highly relevant technology for the production of roll-to-roll coated catalyst layers. Our results showed gravure coating is capable of coating multi-meter lengths of platinum on carbon catalyst layers at industrially-relevant loadings. Multiple characterization methods were used to examine the microscale and macroscale morphology of the coated layer. Using full-web inspection it was shown that gravure coating produced uniform films in both the cross-web and down-web directions. Using electron microscopy, it was observed that gravure coating produced catalyst layers with larger pores than catalyst layers produced by ultrasonic spray coating. In situ performance testing of the gravure-coated electrodes showed promising results, though additional modifications to the catalyst layer ink and/or drying process are needed to match the catalytic activity of spray-coated catalyst layers. This study lays the foundation for future process science studies to understand the science of scale up.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Sustainable Transportation Office. Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Scientific User Facilities Division
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725; AC36-08GO28308
OSTI ID:
1469412
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1474457; OSTI ID: 1476706
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA-5900-71884; /jes/165/11/F1012.atom
Journal Information:
Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Journal Name: Journal of the Electrochemical Society Vol. 165 Journal Issue: 11; ISSN 0013-4651
Publisher:
The Electrochemical SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 43 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

References (28)

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30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
42 ENGINEERING
catalyst layers
fuel cells
roll-to-roll
gravure