Recent Progress on the Key Materials and Components for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells in Vehicle Applications

Cheng Wang, Shubo Wang, Linfa Peng, Junliang Zhang, Zhigang Shao, Jun Huang, Chunwen Sun, Minggao Ouyang and Xiangming He
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Cheng Wang: Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Shubo Wang: Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Linfa Peng: State Key Laboratory of Mechanical System and Vibration, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
Junliang Zhang: School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
Zhigang Shao: Fuel Cell System and Engineering Laboratory, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, Liaoning, China
Jun Huang: State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Chunwen Sun: Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100083, China
Minggao Ouyang: State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Xiangming He: Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

Energies, 2016, vol. 9, issue 8, 1-39

Abstract: Fuel cells are the most clean and efficient power source for vehicles. In particular, proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are the most promising candidate for automobile applications due to their rapid start-up and low-temperature operation. Through extensive global research efforts in the latest decade, the performance of PEMFCs, including energy efficiency, volumetric and mass power density, and low temperature startup ability, have achieved significant breakthroughs. In 2014, fuel cell powered vehicles were introduced into the market by several prominent vehicle companies. However, the low durability and high cost of PEMFC systems are still the main obstacles for large-scale industrialization of this technology. The key materials and components used in PEMFCs greatly affect their durability and cost. In this review, the technical progress of key materials and components for PEMFCs has been summarized and critically discussed, including topics such as the membrane, catalyst layer, gas diffusion layer, and bipolar plate. The development of high-durability processing technologies is also introduced. Finally, this review is concluded with personal perspectives on the future research directions of this area.

Keywords: hydrogen energy; fuel cell automobile; catalyst; proton exchange membrane; gas diffusion layer; bipolar plate (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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