Impact of nanotube length on electrical properties in PEMFCs: A coupled stochastic and numerical study for sustainable mobility

The decarbonization of the mobility sector is essential to reduce the negative impacts of global warming. For this transition, the development of advanced materials such as nanocomposites is necessary. These highly functional materials can be used in various next generation applications, like catalyst support in PEM fuel cells, which is the scope of this study. Stochastic and numerical modeling techniques are combined to investigate the percolation behaviour, an important factor influencing functional properties like electrical and thermal conductivity, in heterogeneous nanocomposites composed of irregularly shaped nanotubes. The analysis focuses in particular on the impact of nanotube length. To manage the high computational demands arising from the multiscale nature of these materials, a unit cell approach is employed. The findings show that the nanotube length has a significant effect on percolation behaviour, enabling the tailoring of functional properties for specific applications.