Membrane electrode assembly hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity

Membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) are typically five-layer structures, as shown in Figure 10.1. The membrane is located in the center of the assembly and is sandwiched by two catalyst layers. The membrane thickness can be from 25 to 50 pm and, as mentioned in Chapter 10, made of perfluorosulfonic acid (Figure 11.3). The catalyst-coated membranes are platinum on a carbon matrix that is approximately 0.4 mg of platinum per square centimeter the catalyst layer can be as thick as 25 pm [12], The carbon/graphite gas diffusion layers are around 300 pm. Opportunities exist for chemists to improve the design of the gas diffusion layer (GDF) as well as the membrane materials. The gas diffusion layer s ability to control its hydrophobic and hydrophilic characteristics is controlled by chemically treating the material. Typically, these GDFs are made by paper processing techniques [12],... 

Considerable changes are needed in the anodic part of the membrane-electrode assemblies in order to accommodate the first two of the above-mentioned points. Instead of the porous gas diffusion layer that in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells ensures a uniform distribution of hydrogen across the surface, a gas-liquid diffusion layer that contains a set of hydrophilic as well as a set of hydrophobic pores is needed here. Through the hydrophilic pores, this layer must secure the unobstructed access of the aqueous methanol solution to the reaction zone and its uniform distribution. Through the hydrophobic pores, this layer must secure the unobstructed elimination of carbon dioxide, as the gaseous reaction product, from the reaction zone. Analogous changes must be made in the catalytically active anode layer of the membrane-electrode assemblies, where the gas is actually formed, and must be removed toward the gas-liquid diffusion layer. 

Figure 2.9a shows the lipid molecule DMPC. Two layers contacted via the hydrophobic tails lead to spontaneous formation of a double-layer biomimetic membrane that can be transferred to a single-crystal ultraplanar electrochemical Au(lll) surface. The hydrophilic head groups contact the electrode surface via an intermediate water film. Due to the structurally very well-defined assembly, not only AFM and in situ STM but also neutron reflectivity. X-ray diffraction, and infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS) have been employed to support the direct visual in situ STM. Electrochemically controlled structural changes, phase transitions, and the effects of the common membrane component cholesterol (Figure 2.9b) and peptide drugs have been investigated in this way. 

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