Self-organization of ionomer

In this section, we discuss theoretical and computational studies that provide insights into structural correlations and dynamical behavior of species in CLs. Structural complexity is an inherent trait of CLs. Advanced fabrication aims to improve Pt utilization by enhancing the interfacial area of Pt with water in pores and with Nafion ionomer [12, 94—95], A practical way to achieve this is by mixing ionomer with dispersed Pt/C catalysts in the ink suspension prior to deposition to form a CL. The solubility of the ionomer depends upon the choice of a dispersion medium. This influences the microstructure and pore size distribution of the CL [95]. Self-organization of ionomer and carbon/Pt in the colloidal ink leads to the formation of phase-segregated agglomerated morphologies. 

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