Recent progress in performance improvement of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC)

Research activities to improve the performance of the low platinum loading hydrogen–air proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) operating at atmospheric pressure are described. Pore-forming additives, new types of proton exchange membranes, and higher activity platinum-on-carbon electrocatalysts have been used in low platinum loading gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) and Membrane–electrode assemblies (MEAs) developed at this center. A method for the fabrication of an integrated GDE and light weight gas flow-field is described. As a result, a three-fold improvement in PEMFC performance at the same platinum loading has been achieved.