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Proton exchange membrane 'thin' to 8 micrometers
With the advancement of technology and the continuous promotion of industrialization, the application of China's thinnest fuel cell proton exchange membrane has gradually iterated to 8 microns.
Due to cost reduction considerations, some downstream customers have specifically requested the use of 8-micron proton exchange membranes. Since 2023, a significant number of 8-micron proton exchange membrane products have been used in their membrane electrodes.
At present, domestically produced 8-micron proton exchange membranes are mainly used, while domestically produced thin proton exchange membranes are approaching 10 microns. Some fuel cell companies have conducted testing and verification, and it is expected to be demonstrated for installation in 2024.
Is thinner the future technological development trend of proton exchange membranes? What does pursuing "thinness" mean for downstream membrane electrode and fuel cell companies? What kind of proton exchange membrane can meet the needs of future fuel cells in practical application scenarios?
Behind the thinning of proton exchange membranes
The main reasons for manufacturing thinner proton exchange membranes are twofold: firstly, to improve the performance of fuel cells, and secondly, to reduce the cost of fuel cells.
On the one hand, thinner proton exchange membranes are more conducive to reducing proton conduction resistance, lowering Ohmic polarization, and have advantages in improving the power density and operational performance of fuel cells. On the other hand, the thinning of proton exchange membranes means saving raw materials, making downstream fuel cell system designs more flexible, and enabling the development of simpler and lower cost fuel cell stacks.
Therefore, whether from the perspective of improving performance or reducing costs, downstream fuel cell companies have a natural demand for thinner proton exchange membranes.
However, proton exchange membranes are not necessarily thinner, and commercial proton exchange membranes must strike a balance between performance, reliability, and cost. There is a natural contradiction between the performance and durability of thin proton exchange membranes, as the thinner the product, the weaker its strength and durability.
For proton exchange membrane companies, thinner proton exchange membranes mean technological challenges in the manufacturing process. Because the thinner the film, the more prone it is to wrinkling and other problems, which can affect the yield rate. The related material formula may also need to be adjusted accordingly, which puts high demands on the technology.
In the past three years, the proton exchange membranes used in actual fuel cells have shown an increasingly thin trend, from the initial 15 to 12 microns to the current 8 microns. Thin proton exchange membranes are becoming more and more popular in the market.
Customers prefer to use thin proton exchange membranes, and cost-effectiveness is one of the main reasons, "said the marketing director of a domestic membrane electrode enterprise. Taking 8-micron proton exchange membranes as an example, if purchased in the same quantity, 8-micron proton exchange membrane products can save more than 20% of costs compared to 12 micron products. Currently, the company has some models of membrane electrodes using 8-micron proton exchange membrane products.