Catalyst coated membranes for fuel cell and water electrolyser delamination induced by organic solution soaking and water ultrasonication†

This study presents a novel room-temperature, two-step process for separating catalyst-coated membranes (CCMs) used in fuel cells and water electrolysers. The method not only achieves a clean separation of the central membrane from the catalyst materials but also preserves the catalyst, thereby avoiding any potential hazardous gas release. The process involves a brief one-minute soak in an optimised solution, followed by a 10–12 minutes low-power ultrasonic treatment in water. The effectiveness of various organic (acetone, ethanol, ethylene glycol, hexane, and toluene) and aqueous (CaCl₂, HCl, NaOH, NH₄Cl) soaking solutions was thoroughly investigated to identify the optimal conditions for achieving near-pristine, separated membranes. This safe and efficient approach offers a promising strategy for CCM recycling, promoting resource recovery and economic benefits in clean energy technologies.