A cactus skin-inspired fuel cell membrane may boost the performance of electric cars, scientists have suggested.
Car manufacturers are gearing toward manufacturing more electric cars in the future. To address some of the challenges in water and heat management in fuel cell systems, researchers from Hanyang University in Korea and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Australia have developed a membrane that has a water-retaining property similar to that of a cactus plant.
The researchers reported that the membrane can increase fuel cell efficiency in electric cars by four times during hot conditions.
CSIRO researcher and study co-author Aaron Thornton explained that the skin functions similarly with the cactus, which retains water in dry environments. Thornton said that what they developed would be significant in the electric car industry because the membranes would allow the proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) to remain hydrated.
In present electric cars, hydration of fuel cells is done by putting the cells with a radiator, humidifier and water reservoir that take up a lot space and use up more power.
Co-author and fellow CSIRO researcher Cara Doherty said they took inspiration from the stomatal pores present in the cactus skin. Doherty said these pores help retain water by closing when the surrounding conditions become hot and dry.
Doherty explained that water generation would occur through an electrochemical reaction regulated by nanocracks within the skin.
"The cracks widen when exposed to humidifying conditions and close up when it is drier," said Doherty. "This means that fuel cells can remain hydrated without the need for bulky external humidifier equipment."
Hanyang University professor and lead researcher Young Moo Lee said that the development of electric vehicles would greatly benefit from their study. He also said that other technologies requiring hydrated membranes, such as devices used in gas separation and water treatment, would also benefit from the research.
The study was published in Nature on April 27.
