Energies (Mar 2025)

Performance Improvement of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells with a TiO<sub>2</sub> Sputtered Gas Diffusion Layer Under Low-Humidity Conditions

  • Byung Gyu Kang,
  • Ye Rim Kwon,
  • Ki Won Hong,
  • Sun Ki Kwon,
  • Hyeon Min Lee,
  • Dong Kun Song,
  • Ji Woong Jeon,
  • Do Young Jung,
  • Dohyun Go,
  • Gu Young Cho

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/en18061525
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 18, no. 6
p. 1525

Abstract

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Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are pivotal to advancing sustainable hydrogen energy systems. However, their performance decreases under low-humidity conditions (relative humidity, RH 50%) due to inadequate membrane hydration. This study addresses this challenge by utilizing a sputtering process to deposit titanium dioxide (TiO2) onto microporous layers (MPLs), enhancing their hydrophilicity and water management capabilities. TiO2 intrinsic hydrophilic properties and oxygen vacancies improve water adsorption and distribution, leading to more stable PEMFC performance under reduced humidity. Electrochemical evaluations revealed that while initial resistance slightly increased, long-term stability improved significantly. The TiO2-coated MPL exhibited a lower performance degradation rate, with a 12.33% reduction in current density compared to 25.3% for the pristine MPL after 10 h of operation. These findings demonstrate that TiO2 deposition effectively mitigates performance losses under low-humidity conditions, reducing the reliance on external humidification systems. This work contributes to the development of more efficient and sustainable fuel cell technologies for applications such as hydrogen-powered vehicles and distributed energy systems.

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