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<p>Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) exhibit severe performance degradation under low-humidity operation due to membrane dehydration and catalyst deactivation. In this study, a TiO<sub>2</sub> interlayer was deposited on the cathode microporous layer (MPL) via reactive sputtering, and its effecs were evaluated under fully humidified (RH 100%) and low-humidity (RH 25%) conditions using serpentine and parallel flow-field designs. At RH 100%, the TiO<sub>2</sub>-coated MPLs exhibited lower maximum power densities (−14.5% for serpentine, −15.7% for parallel), accompanied by increases in ohmic resistance (+19.3% and +30.5%) and faradaic resistance (+1.6% and +28.1%), indicating that the hydrophilic layer provides no discernible benefit under fully humidified conditions. Under RH 25%, however, the beneficial role of the interlayer became evident. In the serpentine design, the cell with a TiO<sub>2</sub>-coated MPL retained a slightly higher electrochemical surface area (ECSA) (47.7 vs. 46.2 m<sup>2</sup>/g), while in the parallel configuration, the pristine MPL suffered a 22.3% ECSA loss, whereas the TiO<sub>2</sub>-coated MPL showed a 2.6% increase. After a 50&#xa0;h constant-voltage durability test conducted at 0.4&#xa0;V, the cells with TiO<sub>2</sub>-coated MPLs consistently degraded at a lower rate; notably, in the parallel configuration, the cell with a TiO<sub>2</sub>-coated MPL not only resisted degradation but also exhibited a net performance improvement, with its current increasing from 2.49 A to 2.92 A. These results demonstrate that sputtered TiO<sub>2</sub> interlayers act as hydrophilic buffers for interfacial water management that suppress ECSA loss and stabilize interfacial resistance under low-humidity operation, exhibiting particularly strong durability benefits in parallel flow fields.</p>

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Synergistic Interplay Between a Hydrophilic TiO2-Coated Microporous Layer and Flow Field Architecture for Enhanced Durability of Low-Humidity PEMFCs

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月20日

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  • Byung Gyu Kang,
  • Ye Rim Kwon,
  • Ki Won Hong,
  • Dong Kun Song,
  • Hyeon Min Lee,
  • Geon Hyeop Kim,
  • Jun Geon Park,
  • Ho Jun Yoo,
  • Yoon Ho Lee,
  • Gu Young Cho

摘要

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) exhibit severe performance degradation under low-humidity operation due to membrane dehydration and catalyst deactivation. In this study, a TiO2 interlayer was deposited on the cathode microporous layer (MPL) via reactive sputtering, and its effecs were evaluated under fully humidified (RH 100%) and low-humidity (RH 25%) conditions using serpentine and parallel flow-field designs. At RH 100%, the TiO2-coated MPLs exhibited lower maximum power densities (−14.5% for serpentine, −15.7% for parallel), accompanied by increases in ohmic resistance (+19.3% and +30.5%) and faradaic resistance (+1.6% and +28.1%), indicating that the hydrophilic layer provides no discernible benefit under fully humidified conditions. Under RH 25%, however, the beneficial role of the interlayer became evident. In the serpentine design, the cell with a TiO2-coated MPL retained a slightly higher electrochemical surface area (ECSA) (47.7 vs. 46.2 m2/g), while in the parallel configuration, the pristine MPL suffered a 22.3% ECSA loss, whereas the TiO2-coated MPL showed a 2.6% increase. After a 50 h constant-voltage durability test conducted at 0.4 V, the cells with TiO2-coated MPLs consistently degraded at a lower rate; notably, in the parallel configuration, the cell with a TiO2-coated MPL not only resisted degradation but also exhibited a net performance improvement, with its current increasing from 2.49 A to 2.92 A. These results demonstrate that sputtered TiO2 interlayers act as hydrophilic buffers for interfacial water management that suppress ECSA loss and stabilize interfacial resistance under low-humidity operation, exhibiting particularly strong durability benefits in parallel flow fields.