Engineered Membrane–Electrode Interface for Hydrocarbon-Based Polymer-Electrolyte-Membrane Fuel Cells via Solvent-Vapor-Annealed Deposition

We present a facile and simple method to fabricate a three-dimensional (3D) interface between a hydrocarbon-based polymer membrane and an electrode of a membrane–electrode assembly via solvent-vapor-annealed deposition (SVAD). SVAD not only increases the membrane proton conduction with nanophase-separated morphology but also reduces the interfacial resistance between the membrane and electrode with formation of nanoscale 3D interfaces. The enlarged interfacial area improves the power performance of fuel cells, originating from reduced interfacial resistances and increased electrochemical active surface area of the catalyst layer (CL) by ionomer impregnation into the tortuous nanopores of the nearest CL. Furthermore, the effect of the engineered 3D interface is investigated by measuring the mechanical durability by the wet–dry cycle and peel strength.