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

Author

Listed:
  • Cheng Wang

    (Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
    State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy, 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
    State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Cheng Wang & Shubo Wang & Linfa Peng & Junliang Zhang & Zhigang Shao & Jun Huang & Chunwen Sun & Minggao Ouyang & Xiangming He, 2016. "Recent Progress on the Key Materials and Components for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells in Vehicle Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-39, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:9:y:2016:i:8:p:603-:d:75020
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Alessandro Arrigoni & Valeria Arosio & Andrea Basso Peressut & Saverio Latorrata & Giovanni Dotelli, 2022. "Greenhouse Gas Implications of Extending the Service Life of PEM Fuel Cells for Automotive Applications: A Life Cycle Assessment," Clean Technol., MDPI, vol. 4(1), pages 1-17, February.
    2. Julian Büsselmann & Maren Rastedt & Tomas Klicpera & Karsten Reinwald & Henrike Schmies & Alexander Dyck & Peter Wagner, 2020. "Analysis of HT-PEM MEAs’ Long-Term Stabilities," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-16, January.
    3. Alisa Kozhushner & Qing Li & Lior Elbaz, 2023. "Heteroatom-Doped Carbon Supports with Enhanced Corrosion Resistance in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-15, April.
    4. Saverio Latorrata & Paola Gallo Stampino & Cinzia Cristiani & Giovanni Dotelli, 2017. "Performance Evaluation and Durability Enhancement of FEP-Based Gas Diffusion Media for PEM Fuel Cells," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-17, December.
    5. Jin Hyun Kim & Gwang Goo Lee & Woo Tae Kim, 2017. "Comparison of Liquid Water Dynamics in Bent Gas Channels of a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell with Different Channel Cross Sections in a Channel Flooding Situation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-18, May.
    6. Jin Hyun Kim & Woo Tae Kim, 2018. "Numerical Investigation of Gas-Liquid Two-Phase Flow inside PEMFC Gas Channels with Rectangular and Trapezoidal Cross Sections," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-18, May.
    7. Ming Peng & Enci Dong & Li Chen & Yu Wang & Wen-Quan Tao, 2022. "Effects of Cathode Gas Diffusion Layer Configuration on the Performance of Open Cathode Air-Cooled Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-21, August.
    8. Fu-Cheng Wang & Kuang-Ming Lin, 2018. "Impacts of Load Profiles on the Optimization of Power Management of a Green Building Employing Fuel Cells," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-16, December.
    9. Devin Fowler & Vladimir Gurau & Daniel Cox, 2019. "Bridging the Gap between Automated Manufacturing of Fuel Cell Components and Robotic Assembly of Fuel Cell Stacks," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-14, September.

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