Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 15, 2026

Hydrogen Production and Utilization in a Membrane Reactor
Published on: March 10, 2023
Interlocking membrane/catalyst layer interface for high mechanical robustness of hydrocarbon-membrane-based polymer
Keun-Hwan Oh1, Hong Suk Kang1, Min-Ju Choo2
1Graduate School of EEWS, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 305-701, South Korea.
Abstract:
A physical interlocking interface that can tightly bind a sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) (SPAES) membrane and a Nafion catalyst layer in polymer electrolyte fuel cells is demonstrated. Owing to higher expansion with hydration for SPAES than for Nafion, a strong normal force is generated at the interface of a SPAES pillar and a Nafion hole, resulting in an 8-fold increase of the interfacial bonding strength at RH 50% and a 4.7-times increase of the wet/dry cycling durability.

