INNOVATIVE PRODUCTION PROCEDURE FOR LOW-COST PEFC ELECTRODES AND ELECTRODE MEMBRANE STRUCTURES/

As production cost will be one of the main challenges For the commerci alization of fuel cells, a new approach to electrode production and el ectrode-membrane-electrode (EME) structure production for polymer elec trolyte fuel cells (PEFC) has been considered. Electrodes are produced by a modified rolling process that was formerly used for the producti on of electrodes for alkaline fuel cells or batteries. This rolling pr ocess has been adapted to the specific demand of PEFC electrodes. The electrodes were analyzed via cyclic voltammetry (CV), impedance and ef fective exchange current density (the geometrical exchange current) me asurements. The comparison of these electrodes with commercially avail able E-Tek electrodes shows the same power output. This paper gives an overview of the ongoing research on these electrode production techno logies. (C) 1997 International Association for Hydrogen Energy.