Interface Optimization Between Porous Transport Layer and Catalyst Layer in Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzers

doi:10.1007/s40242-025-5001-4

Chemical Research in Chinese Universities ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (3): 484-494.doi: 10.1007/s40242-025-5001-4

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Interface Optimization Between Porous Transport Layer and Catalyst Layer in Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzers

ZHU Yanhua¹, LIU Yun¹, ZHANG Fan³, FAN Zihao¹, KANG Zhenye^1,2, WAN Xiaohan⁴, WANG Guanxiong⁴, LI Jing¹, TIAN Chao³, LEI Hui^5,6, WANG Weina^3,5,6,7, TIAN Xinlong¹

1. School of Marine Science and Engineering, School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, P. R. China;
2. State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, P. R. China;
3. State Power Investment Group (SPIC) Hainan Electric Power Co., Ltd., Haikou 570100, P. R. China;
4. Shenzhen Academy of Aerospace Technology, Shenzhen 518057, P. R. China;
5. SPIC Zhiyun (Hainan) Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd., Haikou 570100, P. R. China;
6. Hainan Rongchuang Shuneng Technology Co., Ltd., Haikou 570100, P. R. China;
7. School of Information and Communication Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, P. R. China

Received:2025-01-10 Revised:2025-02-19 Online:2025-06-01 Published:2025-05-27
Contact: KANG Zhenye,E-mail:zkang@hainanu.edu.cn;WANG Guanxiong,E-mail:wanggx131@126.com;TIAN Xinlong,E-mail:tianxl@hainanu.edu.cn E-mail:zkang@hainanu.edu.cn;wanggx131@126.com;tianxl@hainanu.edu.cn
Supported by:
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 22109034, 52461040, 52274297), the Science and Technology Program of Shenzhen, China (No. KCXST20221021111406016), the Opening Project of the State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry of China (No. 2024-8), the First Batch of “Nanhai New Star” Industrial Innovation Talent Platform Project, China (No. 202309006), the Inner Mongolia “Open Bidding for Selecting the Best Candidates” Project (No. 2024JBGS0001), and the Start-up Research Foundation of Hainan University, China (No. KYQD(ZR)-21124).

Abstract

Abstract: The porous transport layer (PTL) and the catalyst layer are two critical components in the proton exchange membrane water electrolyzer (PEMWE). The gas/liquid two-phase transport and electron/heat transfer between the two layers have a significant impact on the performance of the whole device. Catalyst layers and PTLs prepared by different methods or structures have unique effects. The coordination between the PTL and catalyst layer can greatly impact the catalyst and PEMWE performance, which is induced by the interface between the two. However, this coupled effect has not been well studied and the optimized interface mechanism is still unclear. In this work, three types of PTLs, including carbon paper, Ti felt and sintered Ti particles, were adopted, and their interfacial relationships between catalyst layers were investigated. We found that the interface between PTL and catalyst layer can be regulated by PTL structure, surface property, and catalyst layer thickness. The surface coating improves the electron transport at the interface and in the PTL itself, thereby increasing the local current density and weakening the influence of Schottky basis and pinch-off effects, and thus improving the PEMWE performance. The catalyst layer thickness could affect the in-plane electrical conductivity, which adjusts the active site distribution and enhances the local current density uniformity. This work reveals the coupled effects of PTL and catalyst layer on the interface and PEMWE performance, which provides the optimization strategy for the interface in PEMWE.

Key words: Porous transport layer, Catalyst layer, Proton exchange membrane water electronlyzer (PEMWE), Interface, Schottky effect

ZHU Yanhua, LIU Yun, ZHANG Fan, FAN Zihao, KANG Zhenye, WAN Xiaohan, WANG Guanxiong, LI Jing, TIAN Chao, LEI Hui, WANG Weina, TIAN Xinlong. Interface Optimization Between Porous Transport Layer and Catalyst Layer in Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzers[J]. Chemical Research in Chinese Universities, 2025, 41(3): 484-494.

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Interface Optimization Between Porous Transport Layer and Catalyst Layer in Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzers

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