Production of membrane electrode assembly for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells using sputter method and its optimization

Fuel cells are electrochemical devices which convert chemical energydirectly into electrical energy. Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells(PEMFC) are especially chosen for mobile devices and vehicles because of itshigh power density, high energy conversion efficiency, having a small size andweight, and low operation temperatures. Using expensive noble metal catalystsuch as platinum on electrodes is one of the cost effective factors at PEM fuelcells. Sputter method is used as an alternative method for manufacturing lowcatalyst loading Membrane Electrode Assembly. Although the performance ofelectrodes produced by sputter method is somewhat less than that of electrodesproduced by thin film method, there is a considerable decrease in catalyst loadingon electrodes produced by sputter method.In this study, PEMFC test station was set up, experiments was performedto optimize the operation conditions of PEM fuel cell by using Taguchiexperimental design method and MEA?s were produced by both conventional andsputter methods. Furthermore, optimization studies of MEA?s produced by sputtertechnique were realized by Taguchi?s Method.Keywords: PEM Fuel Cell, Sputter Method, Optimization, Taguchi Method.