Eur. Phys. J. Appl. Phys. 34, 151-156 (2006)
https://doi.org/10.1051/epjap:2006035

Solid polymer fuel cell synthesis by low pressure plasmas: a short review

¹ Groupe de Recherches sur l'Énergétique des Milieux Ionisés, UMR 6606, CNRS-Université d'Orléans, BP 6744, 45067 Orléans Cedex 2, France
² Institut Européen des Membranes, UMR 5635, CNRS-Université de Montpellier II - CC 47, place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
³ Laboratoire de Catalyse en Chimie Organique, UMR 6503, CNRS-Université de Poitiers, 40 avenue du Recteur Pineau, 86022 Poitiers Cedex, France
⁴ Plasma Research Laboratory, Research School of Physical Science and Engineering Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200, Australia

Corresponding author: Pascal.Brault@univ-orleans.fr

Received: 21 September 2005
Revised: 7 November 2005
Accepted: 3 March 2006
Published online: 4 May 2006

Abstract

In this review, we report on the use of low pressure plasmas for elaborating materials at the heart of solid polymer fuel cells (SPFC), especially electrodes and the membrane electrolyte. Electrodes are formed using plasma sputtering techniques while the ion conducting membranes are built up using plasma polymerization. Fuel cell performance will be improved by these approaches. The electrode catalyst profile is optimized while membrane working temperature is increased and methanol crossover is lowered compared to conventional PEM fuel cells.