Industrial Consultancy & Sponsored Research (IC&SR) , IIT Madras
Die-cast axial compression process for standalone monolithic diffusion layer integrating microporous and gas diffusion layers
Categories for this Invention
Category – Advanced Materials
Applications– Aerospace, Automotive
Industry- Energy Storage, Automotive, Industrial Automation
Market – PEM Fuel Cell Market size valued at USD 3.06 billion in 2023 and is estimated to grow at over 8.3% CAGR from 2024 to 2032.
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Problem Statement
- Current methods of coating Micro Porous Layers (MPL) onto Gas Diffusion Layers (GDL) in PEMFCs lack uniformity, leading to issues such as uneven thickness, crack formation, and water accumulation.
- The bilayer system of MPL and GDL results in high material costs, poor control over properties, and water accumulation at interfaces, affecting fuel cell performance.
- There is a need to develop a cost-effective, mechanically stable, and uniformly thick standalone monolithic diffusion layer (SMDL) that combines the functions of MPL and GDL to address these issues.
Technology
- Current methods of coating MPL onto GDL lack uniformity, resulting in uneven thickness and crack formation, leading to water accumulation and reduced fuel cell performance.
- The bilayer system of MPL and GDL incurs high material costs and lacks control over properties, affecting fuel cell efficiency.
- Developing a cost-effective, mechanically stable, and uniformly thick SMDL combining MPL and GDL functions is essential to address these issues and improve fuel cell performance.
Key Features / Value Proposition
Uniform Coating Technology:
- Revolutionizes PEMFC manufacturing with a process for uniformly coating MPL onto GDL, ensuring consistent thickness and reducing crack formation.
Cost Efficiency:
- Drastically reduces material costs by eliminating the need for separate MPL and GDL layers, making fuel cell production more economical.
Enhanced Performance:
- Improves fuel cell efficiency and durability by providing a mechanically stable SMDL with optimized porosity and conductivity.
Water Management:
- Solves water accumulation issues with improved water transport properties, preventing pore clogging and maintaining optimal performance.
Questions about this Technology?
Contact For Licensing
sm-marketing@imail.iitm.ac.in
ipoffice2@iitm.ac.in
Research Lab
Prof. Prathap Haridoss
Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering
Intellectual Property
- IITM IDF Ref. 1650
- IN 466746 – Patent Granted
Technology Readiness Level
TRL – 4
Technology validated in lab scale.