Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39737985›Full record

ArticleNature communications2024

Laser scribed proton exchange membranes for enhanced fuel cell performance and stability.

Jianuo Chen, Xuekun Lu, Lingtao Wang, Wenjia Du, Hengyi Guo, Max Rimmer, Heng Zhai, Yuhan Liu, Paul R Shearing, Sarah J Haigh and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. Article
  7. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Jianuo ChenDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Electrochemical Innovation Lab, University College London, London, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4019-0737
Xuekun LuSchool of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1566-1509
Lingtao WangDepartment of Materials, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Wenjia DuDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Electrochemical Innovation Lab, University College London, London, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8434-4764
Hengyi GuoDepartment of Materials, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Max RimmerDepartment of Materials, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9920-318X
Heng ZhaiDepartment of Chemical Engineering, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8884-3058
Yuhan LiuDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Electrochemical Innovation Lab, University College London, London, UK.
Paul R ShearingDepartment of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Sarah J HaighDepartment of Materials, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5509-6706
Stuart M HolmesDepartment of Chemical Engineering, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Thomas S MillerDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Electrochemical Innovation Lab, University College London, London, UK. t.miller@ucl.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2224-5768

Funding

EC | EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation H2020 | H2020 Priority Excellent Science | H2020 European Research Council (H2020 Excellent Science - European Research Council) ERC-2016-STG-EvoluTEM-715502RCUK | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) EP/P009050/1RCUK | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) EP/P025021/1RCUK | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) EP/P025498/1RCUK | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) EP/S019367/1RCUK | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) EP/W033321/1RCUK | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) EP/W03395X/1RCUK | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) EP/X023656/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

High-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs) offer solutions to challenges intrinsic to low-temperature PEMFCs, such as complex water management, fuel inflexibility, and thermal integration. However, they are hindered by phosphoric acid (PA) leaching and catalyst migration, which destabilize the critical three-phase interface within the membrane electrode assembly (MEA). This study presents an innovative approach to enhance HT-PEMFC performance through membrane modification using picosecond laser scribing, which optimises the three-phase interface by forming a graphene-like structure that mitigates PA leaching. Our results demonstrate that laser-induced modification of PA-doped membranes, particularly on the cathode side, significantly enhances the performance and durability of HT-PEMFCs, achieving a peak power density of 817.2 mW cm⁻² after accelerated stress testing, representing a notable 58.2% increase compared to untreated membranes. Furthermore, a comprehensive three-dimensional multi-physics model, based on X-ray micro-computed tomography data, was employed to visualise and quantify the impact of this laser treatment on the dynamic electrochemical processes within the MEA. Hence, this work provides both a scalable methodology to stabilise an important future membrane technology, and a clear mechanistic understanding of how this targeted laser modification acts to optimise the three-phase interface of HT-PEMFCs, which can have impact across a wide array of applications.

Identifiers

PMID39737985
PMCPMC11685907

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.