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Effect of Nb interlayer thickness on the performance of porous transport layers for proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers

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  • Anurag,
  • Gupta, Abhay
  • Shahgaldi, Samaneh

Abstract

Polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolyzer (PEMWE) integrated with renewable energy sources is a crucial technology for energy transition. However, the high cost of precious metal-coated porous transport layers (PTLs) is one of the limiting factors for the widespread use of PEMWE. Multi-layered coatings with cost-effective Nb as an interlayer and thin layer of precious metal (one-fourth of commercial) as a top layer could serve as a potential alternative to commercial PTL in PEMWE. This study explored the impact of different thicknesses of Nb interlayer (150, 200, 350 nm) on the electrochemical behavior of multi-layered NbPt coatings, by comparing them with two single layered Pt-coated PTLs (in-house Pt-coated PTL and commercial Pt-coated PTL) under PEMWE simulated condition. The result showed that the Ti PTLs with Nb as an interlayer (150, 200, 350 nm) performed better than the single layered in-house Pt-coated PTL. The best performing multi-layered NbPt (Nb = 350 nm, Pt = 50 nm) sample was finally compared with commercial Pt (200 nm) coated PTL in the in-situ condition of PEMWE. The multi-layered NbPt coating showed an equivalent performance (1.967 V@3.0 A cm−2) compared to commercial Pt coating (1.958 V@3.0 A cm−2), making Nb as a promising cost-effective interlayer for PTL coating.

Suggested Citation

  • Anurag, & Gupta, Abhay & Shahgaldi, Samaneh, 2026. "Effect of Nb interlayer thickness on the performance of porous transport layers for proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:262:y:2026:i:c:s0960148126001989
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2026.125373
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kim, Changwook & Seo, Seunghwan & Yoon, Soobin & Kim, Jihoo & Park, Youngjune & Lee, Pilyoung & You, Donghyun, 2026. "Effects of oxygen bubble formation in the porous transport layer on the performance of polymer-electrolyte-membrane water electrolyzer," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(PE).
    2. Liu, Chang & Wrubel, Jacob A. & Padgett, Elliot & Bender, Guido, 2024. "Impacts of PTL coating gaps on cell performance for PEM water electrolyzer," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 356(C).
    3. Chen, Ke & Xiong, Zhongzhuang & He, Dandi & Luo, Zongkai & Zou, Guofu & Chen, Wenshang & Chen, Ben, 2025. "Optimization of porous transport layer for overall performance improvement in unitized regenerative fuel cell under clamping pressures," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 251(C).
    4. Kang, Zhenye & Yang, Gaoqiang & Mo, Jingke, 2024. "Development of an ultra-thin electrode for the oxygen evolution reaction in proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    5. Tang, Yinglun & Su, Shangchun & Niu, Xiaoxuan & Song, Zhehui & Li, Wenjia, 2024. "A gradient porous transport layer enabling a high-performance proton-exchange membrane electrolysis cell," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(PC).
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