PEM Fuel Cell

There are four basic elements of a PEM Fuel Cell:

The anode, the negative post of the fuel cell, has several jobs. It conducts the electrons that are freed from the hydrogen molecules so that they can be used in an external circuit. It has channels etched into it that disperse the hydrogen gas equally over the surface of the catalyst.

The cathode, the positive post of the fuel cell, has channels etched into it that distribute the oxygen to the surface of the catalyst. It also conducts the electrons back from the external circuit to the catalyst, where they can recombine with the hydrogen ions and oxygen to form water.

The electrolyte is the proton exchange membrane. This specially treated material, which looks something like ordinary kitchen plastic wrap, only conducts positively charged ions. The membrane blocks electrons. For a PEMFC, the membrane must be hydrated in order to function and remain stable.

The catalyst is a special material that facilitates the reaction of oxygen and hydrogen. It is usually made of platinum nanoparticles very thinly coated onto carbon paper or cloth. The catalyst is rough and porous so that the maximum surface area of the platinum can be exposed to the hydrogen or oxygen. The platinum-coated side of the catalyst faces the PEM.

PEM Fuel Cell - Fuel Cell Catalyst Coating - Cheersonic

Ultrasonic coating systems can produce highly durable and uniform carbon-based catalyst ink coatings on the electrolysis process of fuel cells and proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers (such as Nafion) without deforming the membrane. The uniform catalyst coating is deposited on PEM fuel cells, GDL, electrodes, various electrolyte membranes and solid oxide fuel cells with suspension. The suspension contains carbon black ink, PTFE binder, ceramic slurry, platinum and Other precious metals. The ultrasonic coating system can coat PEM with very small liquid sample size (only need to coat 10ml catalyst solution to coat multiple PEMs). Ideal for the development stage. Excellent adherence to PEM; “Persistence”; most suitable for high vibration fuel cell applications, such as automotive parts.