New graphene-based approach could take fuel cells to the next level

Fuel cells rely on proton exchange membranes (PEMs) to conduct protons while preventing the unwanted crossover of fuel molecules like hydrogen. Thinner membranes can improve performance by reducing resistance and enabling higher power density. However, this typically comes at a cost: thinner PEMs allow more hydrogen fuel to leak through, reducing overall efficiency. By incorporating a monolayer of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) graphene into PEMs, the team significantly reduced hydrogen crossover by more than 50% while maintaining excellent proton conductivity. The graphene layer with pores at the atomic and nanoscale acts like a selective barrier, allowing protons to pass while blocking larger molecules such as hydrogen gas.

Researchers from Vanderbilt University, University of Calgary and Western University recently developed a way graphene-based way to improve fuel cell efficiency without sacrificing performance—solving a long-standing challenge in the field.Fuel cells rely on proton exchange membranes (PEMs) to conduct protons while preventing the unwanted crossover of fuel molecules like hydrogen. Thinner membranes can improve performance by reducing resistance and enabling higher power density. However, this typically comes at a cost: thinner PEMs allow more hydrogen fuel to leak through, reducing overall efficiency. By incorporating a monolayer of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) graphene into PEMs, the team significantly reduced hydrogen crossover by more than 50% while maintaining excellent proton conductivity. The graphene layer with pores at the atomic and nanoscale acts like a selective barrier, allowing protons to pass while blocking larger molecules such as hydrogen gas.

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