Roll-to-Roll Direct Coating of Catalyst Inks on Membrane Films: Progress and Challenges
Further development of low temperature electrolysis (LTE) systems is of importance to ensure the renewable hydrogen production for hydrogen-based energy systems. The membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is a key component of the LTE system and typically contains a catalyst coated membrane (CCM). To enable the U.S. Department of Energy's hydrogen production cost goal of $2/kg, high volume manufacturing processes will be required to lower manufacturing costs of the CCM. A promising way for high-throughput manufacturing of CCM is using roll-to-roll (R2R) methods that allow the direct coating of electrodes on membrane films. However, there are many challenges with this methodology, both in the coating process as well as with web handling. In this talk, we discuss the membrane-ink interaction by evaluating the solvent uptake of a Nafion membrane system and verify the coatability of various inks through lab-scale coatings onto this system. Furthermore, rheology and surface tension data of the ink will be discussed together with the resulting morphology of the coated electrodes. The R2R-processed CCMs will finally be analyzed using electrochemical performance data and the results put in context with the challenges that the mass production of CCMs for LTE system faces to date.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Transportation Office. Fuel Cell Technologies Office
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC36-08GO28308
- OSTI ID:
- 1713289
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/PR-5900-77527; MainId:27463; UUID:43fbb24b-6c14-4306-b3c4-aa87f64ece06; MainAdminID:18805
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Presented at the 20th International Coating Science and Technology Symposium, 20-23 September 2020
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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