Membrane-Elektrode-Assembly

The Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) is the heart of each Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cell, where the conversion of chemical to electrical energy takes place.

In order to make this conversion or power generation process as powerful and ageing-stable as possible, targeted research is required on the individual components and composite structures, taking into account the interactions between them. Especially in the production and transfer of catalyst layers to the membrane there are a multitude of possible production steps, each of which has its own parameter matrix. We attach great importance to scalability from laboratory scale to roll-to-roll production and thus also consider cost-efficient manufacturing strategies from the very beginning.

The work of the Electrochemical Components Department (EK) basically covers the electrochemical analysis of processes in fuel cells and the physical-chemical characterization of fuel cell components, supplemented by the development of components (catalysts, polymers, membranes, gas diffusion layers/GDS) and the elaboration of production technologies for the manufacture of optimized catalyst dispersions, electrocatalytically active electrode layers and catalyst-coated membranes (CCM) or MEA for fuel cells.

By identifying membrane and electrode-damaging side reactions, we also enable the optimization of energy-producing processes while avoiding degradation of the components.

MEA development in the EK department has four main focuses:

•     Dispersion development for functional layers
•     Development of coating and drying processes, CCM production
•     Fully automated in-situ testing for PEM MEAs
•     Electrochemical analysis and material screening