Surfactant-Assisted Catalyst Ink Dispersion for Enhanced Cell Performance of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

This study examines the effects of several commercial surfactants on the dispersion of catalyst inks for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Catalyst inks containing Pt/C were spray-coated and assembled into membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) by hot pressing. The structural and electrochemical properties of the resulting catalyst layers were characterized through particle size analysis, zeta potential measurements, contact angle determinations, and single-cell performance tests. Among the formulations evaluated, the ink with non-ionic surfactant Triton X-100 (TX) delivered the best performance, achieving a current density of 1134 mA/cm2 at 0.3 V—substantially higher than that of the surfactant-free control. These findings provide practical guidance for selecting appropriate surfactants to optimize catalyst-ink preparation and enhance PEMFC performance.