Issue 10, 2025

Advantages of ordered catalyst layers in PEMFCs: theoretical perspectives and future development

Abstract

The catalyst layer in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) is crucial for facilitating electrochemical reactions. These layers required meticulously engineered structures to optimize the accessibility of catalyst sites to reactants and to enhance electron and proton transport. The advancement of patterned ordered catalyst layers has attracted significant attention, as this arrangement is thought to resolve essential challenges relative to conventional catalyst layer structures in fuel cells. The theoretical foundation for the usage of ordered catalyst layers and their superior performance has not yet been documented. This article addresses the implications of shifting from conventional catalyst layers (CCLs) to ordered catalyst layers (OCLs) in PEMFC applications. The discussion will address important aspects, including mass transfer, reaction rates, platinum utilization, water management, and the generation of electricity, which are essential for interpreting the performance of PEMFCs. Future directions involve modeling, manufacturing scalability, inventive structural designs, and the dissemination of developments, providing insights into enhancing the performance and practicality of PEMFCs.

Graphical abstract: Advantages of ordered catalyst layers in PEMFCs: theoretical perspectives and future development

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
09 Jan 2025
Accepted
26 Mar 2025
First published
16 Apr 2025
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2025,9, 2625-2650

Advantages of ordered catalyst layers in PEMFCs: theoretical perspectives and future development

M. Yusro and V. Hacker, Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2025, 9, 2625 DOI: 10.1039/D5SE00028A

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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