High performance membrane-electrode assemblies with ultra-low Pt loading for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

High performance membrane-electrode assemblies (MEAs) with ultra-low Pt loadings have been prepared by a modified thin film method. The method involves a mixing of the carbon supported Pt catalyst with Nation solution without adding any additional organic solvents and a processing of the MEAs at lower temperatures (< 100 degrees C). The MEAs thus fabricated show high Pt utilization efficiency and power density. The best performance is achieved with a Pt loading of 0.1 mg/cm(2) using a 20 wt.% Pt/C. Moreover, the performance loss is not significant even when the Pt loading is reduced further to as low as 0.05 mg/cm(2). A scanning electron microscopic analysis reveals that the thin catalyst layers are uniform with a good interfacial continuity between the membrane and the electrodes. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.