IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v18y2025i19p5319-d1767295.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

High-Efficiency, Lightweight, and Reliable Integrated Structures—The Future of Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers

Author

Listed:
  • Jun Zhang

    (School of Automotive Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai 264209, China)

  • Runjin Deng

    (School of Automotive Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai 264209, China)

  • Yanyan Wang

    (School of Automotive Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai 264209, China)

  • Conggan Ma

    (School of Automotive Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai 264209, China)

  • Zhaojie Shen

    (School of Automotive Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai 264209, China)

  • Yitao Shen

    (School of Automotive Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai 264209, China)

  • Stuart M. Holmes

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK)

  • Zhaoqi Ji

    (School of Automotive Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai 264209, China)

Abstract

The high efficiency, light weight, and reliability of hydrogen energy electrochemical equipment are among the future development directions. Membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) and electrolyzers, as key components, have structures and strengths that determine the efficiency of their power generation and the hydrogen production efficiency of electrolyzers. This article summarizes the evolution of membrane electrode and electrolyzer structures, and their power and efficiency in recent years, highlighting the significant role of integrated structures in promoting proton transport and enhancing performance. Finally, it proposes the development direction of integrating electrolyte and electrode manufacturing using phase-change methods.

Suggested Citation

  • Jun Zhang & Runjin Deng & Yanyan Wang & Conggan Ma & Zhaojie Shen & Yitao Shen & Stuart M. Holmes & Zhaoqi Ji, 2025. "High-Efficiency, Lightweight, and Reliable Integrated Structures—The Future of Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-12, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:19:p:5319-:d:1767295
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/19/5319/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/19/5319/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jeroen van den Bergh & Cees van Beers & Lewis C. King, 2023. "Climate activists — rethink fossil-fuel subsidy cuts," Nature, Nature, vol. 617(7961), pages 465-465, May.
    2. Yuan, Wei & Tang, Yong & Yang, Xiaojun & Wan, Zhenping, 2012. "Porous metal materials for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells – A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 309-329.
    3. Kui Jiao & Jin Xuan & Qing Du & Zhiming Bao & Biao Xie & Bowen Wang & Yan Zhao & Linhao Fan & Huizhi Wang & Zhongjun Hou & Sen Huo & Nigel P. Brandon & Yan Yin & Michael D. Guiver, 2021. "Designing the next generation of proton-exchange membrane fuel cells," Nature, Nature, vol. 595(7867), pages 361-369, July.
    4. Wan, Zhongmin & Yan, Hanzhang & Sun, Yun & Yang, Chen & Chen, Xi & Kong, Xiangzhong & Chen, Yiyu & Tu, Zhengkai & Wang, Xiaodong, 2023. "Thermal management improvement of air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell by using metal foam flow field," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 333(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Qiao, Jia Nan & Guo, Hang & Ye, Fang & Chen, Hao, 2024. "A nonlinear contraction channel design inspired by typical mathematical curves: Boosting net power and water discharge of PEM fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 357(C).
    2. Wu, Y. & Xu, L. & Zhou, S. & Yang, J. & Kockelmann, W. & Han, Y. & Li, Q. & Chen, W. & Coppens, M.-O. & Shearing, P.R. & Brett, D.J.L. & Jervis, R., 2024. "Water management and mass transport of a fractal metal foam flow-field based polymer electrolyte fuel cell using operando neutron imaging," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 364(C).
    3. Chadwick, Eric A. & Shrestha, Pranay & Parmar, Harsharaj B. & Bazylak, Aimy & Schulz, Volker P., 2025. "Biomimetic auxiliary channels enhance oxygen delivery and water removal in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 389(C).
    4. Tao, Xingxiao & Zeng, Zhen & Liu, Huaiyu & Suo, Mengshan & Li, Qifeng & Sun, Kai & Che, Zhizhao & Wang, Tianyou, 2025. "PEM fuel cell with non-uniform porous metal foam as cathode flow field," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 380(C).
    5. Zhu, Kai-Qi & Ding, Quan & Zhang, Ben-Xi & Xu, Jiang-Hai & Yang, Yan-Ru & Lee, Duu-Jong & Wan, Zhong-Min & Wang, Xiao-Dong, 2025. "An integrated experimental and numerical investigation of performance and heat-mass transport dynamics in air-cooled PEMFCs with a bamboo-shaped flow field design," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 377(PB).
    6. Yuemeng Zhang & Jia Wang & Zhanhui Yao, 2023. "Recent Development of Fuel Cell Core Components and Key Materials: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-23, February.
    7. Zhang, Yong & He, Shirong & Jiang, Xiaohui & Xiong, Mu & Ye, Yuntao & Yang, Xi, 2023. "Three-dimensional multi-phase simulation of proton exchange membrane fuel cell performance considering constriction straight channel," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 267(C).
    8. Zhang, Xiaoqing & Yang, Jiapei & Ma, Xiao & Zhuge, Weilin & Shuai, Shijin, 2022. "Modelling and analysis on effects of penetration of microporous layer into gas diffusion layer in PEM fuel cells: Focusing on mass transport," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PA).
    9. Liu, Zhongyong & Sun, Hao & Xu, Lifeng & Mao, Lei & Hu, Zhiyong & Li, Jingguo, 2025. "Toward low-data and real-time PEMFC diagnostic: Multi-sine stimulation and hybrid ECM-informed neural network," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 391(C).
    10. Luo, Zongkai & Zou, Guofu & Chen, Ke & Chen, Wenshang & Deng, Qihao & He, Dandi & Xiong, Zhongzhuang & Chen, Ben, 2025. "Evolution of current distribution and performance degradation mechanism of PEMFC during transient loading under gas starvation condition: An experimental study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 388(C).
    11. Zhang, Xin & Li, Jingwen & Xiong, Yi & Ang, Yee Sin, 2022. "Efficient harvesting of low-grade waste heat from proton exchange membrane fuel cells via thermoradiative power devices," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    12. Lu, Guolong & Fan, Wenxuan & Lu, Dafeng & Zhao, Taotao & Wu, Qianqian & Liu, Mingxin & Liu, Zhenning, 2024. "Lung-inspired hybrid flow field to enhance PEMFC performance: A case of dual optimization by response surface and artificial intelligence," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 355(C).
    13. Yunjie Yang & Minli Bai & Laisuo Su & Jizu Lv & Chengzhi Hu & Linsong Gao & Yang Li & Yubai Li & Yongchen Song, 2022. "One-Dimensional Numerical Simulation of Pt-Co Alloy Catalyst Aging for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-23, September.
    14. Bae, Suk Joo & Kim, Seong-Joon & Lee, Jin-Hwa & Song, Inseob & Kim, Nam-In & Seo, Yongho & Kim, Ki Buem & Lee, Naesung & Park, Jun-Young, 2014. "Degradation pattern prediction of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell stack with series reliability structure via durability data of single cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 48-55.
    15. Ahmed Mohmed Dafalla & Lin Wei & Bereket Tsegai Habte & Jian Guo & Fangming Jiang, 2022. "Membrane Electrode Assembly Degradation Modeling of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-26, December.
    16. Venkatesan, Suriya & Mitzel, Jens & Wegner, Karsten & Costa, Remi & Gazdzicki, Pawel & Friedrich, Kaspar Andreas, 2022. "Nanomaterials and films for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells and solid oxide cells by flame spray pyrolysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    17. Yang, Mingguang & Quan, Zhenhua & Wang, Lincheng & Chang, Zejian & Zhao, Yaohua & Xing, Lei & Xuan, Jin, 2025. "Experimental design and assessment of a novel mixed-cooling proton exchange membrane fuel cells stack for enhanced power generation and thermal management," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 386(C).
    18. Wang, Mingkai & Pei, Pucheng & Xu, Yiming & Fan, Tengbo & Ren, Peng & Zhu, Zijing & Chen, Dongfang & Fu, Xi & Song, Xin & Wang, He, 2024. "CO-tolerance behaviors of proton exchange membrane fuel cell stacks with impure hydrogen fuel," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 366(C).
    19. Wei Shen & Hongtao Su & Jianhua Gao & Lei Fan & Gang Zhang & Su Zhou, 2025. "A Multi-Objective Temperature Control Method for a Multi-Stack Fuel Cell System with Different Stacks Based on Model Predictive Control," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-17, May.
    20. Chen, Daifen & Zeng, Qice & Su, Shichuan & Bi, Wuxi & Ren, Zhiqiang, 2013. "Geometric optimization of a 10-cell modular planar solid oxide fuel cell stack manifold," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 1100-1107.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:19:p:5319-:d:1767295. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.