Designing a new generation of fuel cells using layer-by-layer deposition of polyelectrolytes

COLL 163

Paula T Hammond and Tarek R. Farhat. Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 66-550, Cambridge, MA 02139
All fuel cells utilizing the membrane-electrode assembly have their ion-conductive membrane sandwiched between bipolar plates. Unfortunately, applying conventional techniques to isolated polyelectrolyte membranes is challenging and difficult. A more practical alternative is to use the layer-by-layer technique to fabricate the membrane electrode assembly which, technologically, is relatively simple, economic, and robust. The process paves the way to fabricate ion-conductive membranes tailored for optimum performance in terms of controlled thickness, structural morphology and catalyst loading. Performance plots characterizing the physical properties of the LBL-fuel cell assembly will be presented and discussed.