Ordered macroporous inverse opal structured Pt electrode was fabricated to membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells by pulse electro-deposition following PS colloidal crystal template on gas diffusion layers (GDLs). GDLs containing microporous layers were used as substrates in order to directly apply inverse opal structure into MEAs, without additional transfer process. In disordered structure electrodes, the gas molecules tend to be impeded by the pore walls and other particles, therefore effective diffusivity is lower than inverse opal structured Pt electrode. Inverse opal structured electrode shows enhanced mass transfer and water management because it has large effective diffusivity due to open and interconnected pore architecture, as well thinner electrode. Such surpassing properties of the inverse opal structured electrode enable that it would be attractive materials for various applications in electrochemical device.

Ordered macroporous inverse opal structured Pt electrode using template with self-assembled polystyrene spheres and their application to fuel cells

244th National Meeting (2012)

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