Influence of Hot-pressing Temperature on the Performance of Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis

To enhance the cell performance of proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE), it is imperative to improve the preparation process of membrane electrode assembly (MEA). Decal transfer through a hot-pressing process is an important method for the preparation of MEAs. Herein, the impacts of hot-pressing temperature during the decal process on MEA performance are investigated. It has been found that the hot-pressing process can significantly affect proton conduction and water/gas transport. The MEA obtained through decal transfer under 145°C demonstrates the lowest Ohmic loss. In contrast, the MEA obtained under 160°C exhibits the lowest mass transport loss and best cell performance under high current densities. This work provides valuable insights for MEA development, which is crucial for the widespread implementation of PEMWE on a large scale.