Scaling up membrane electrode assemblies for industrial applications

Abstract

Membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) are critical for hydrogen energy technologies, such as fuel cells and electrolyzers, yet their industrialization remains complex. Key challenges include the high cost of platinum-group metal (PGM) catalysts, performance gaps between lab-scale and industrial devices due to disparities in transport dynamics, and the need to optimize mass transport at triple-phase boundaries. Manufacturing hurdles involve unstable catalyst inks, difficulties with precision coating, and thermal and mechanical instability during hot pressing. PGM scarcity and weak links between academia and industry further impede progress. To cut costs and close performance gaps, the field can pivot toward non-precious-metal catalysts, establish closed-loop PGM recycling, and coordinate cross-disciplinary process optimization. Concurrently, it is essential to acknowledge the shifting competitive dynamics of MEAs in the energy market and strategically emphasize their strengths, such as fuel cells’ advantage over lithium-ion batteries in heavy-duty transport applications, to enhance market penetration and accelerate scalable deployment.