Water pockets in a 5-nm-thick film

The performance of PEFMC-type fuel cells often boils down to details like the physical and chemical characteristics of the 5-nm polymer film used to coat the platinized carbon of an electrode.
Researchers at INAC joined forces with their Canadian colleagues to study the issue. They used statistics-based mechanical design tools to develop a digital model of the structure. What they discovered was that the water molecules carried through this ultra-thin film are distributed irregularly, creating “pockets” of water.
The digital model will now be used to improve this very sensitive fuel-cell component. It can also help engineers better interpret indirect observations of the films generated using X-ray and neutron diffusion, for example.

Contact: stefano.mossa@cea.fr

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