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A Porous Silicon‐Based Ionomer‐Free Membrane Electrode Assembly for Miniature Fuel Cells
Author(s) -
Pichonat T.,
GauthierManuel B.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
fuel cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.485
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1615-6854
pISSN - 1615-6846
DOI - 10.1002/fuce.200500261
Subject(s) - ionomer , proton exchange membrane fuel cell , nafion , membrane electrode assembly , membrane , materials science , electrode , silicon , porous silicon , chemical engineering , porosity , catalysis , nanotechnology , fuel cells , electrolyte , composite material , electrochemistry , chemistry , optoelectronics , polymer , organic chemistry , engineering , copolymer , biochemistry
Previous work showed the pertinence of using grafted porous silicon as the proton exchange membrane for miniature fuel cells. One of the limitations was the membrane‐electrodes assembly, which required an ionomer, in the current study a 5% Nafion®‐117 solution, to ensure a proton‐conducting link between the commercial carbon cloth electrodes and the membrane. Here, new developments for this fuel cell, with a totally Nafion®‐free process, are reported. The Pt catalyst is sputtered and electrodeposited onto the surface of the proton conducting porous silicon membrane. The initial performance of this fuel cell is shown and demonstrates the validity of the technique.