The polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) generates electrical energy through electrochemical reactions and is a key technology for sustainable energy. The electrolyte membrane significantly affects performance under varying conditions. This study examines the impact of membrane thickness and relative humidity (RH) on PEMFC performance using j-V curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Experiments were conducted with membrane thicknesses of 30, 15, and 5 μm under RH conditions of 100%-100% and 100%-0%. Under RH 100%-100%, performance improved as the membrane thickness decreased, with values of 954, 1050, and 1235 mW/cm² for the 30, 15, and 5 μm membranes, respectively. The 5 μm membrane demonstrated a 23% performance improvement over the 30 μm membrane. Under RH 100%-0%, performances were 422, 642, and 852 mW/cm², with degradation rates of 55.8%, 39.0%, and 32.1%. The 5 μm membrane exhibited the lowest degradation rate, indicating superior performance under low humidity. These results suggest that thinner membranes generally enhance performance and maintain efficiency even in dry conditions.

In this paper, we propose a novel method for controlling the anisotropic sliding behavior of droplets using multiscale hierarchical structures. First, we employed a silicon wafer mold containing micro-pillars and directional micro-line structures to induce the directional sliding of droplets. Additionally, we fabricated micro-cone patterns and integrated them into the structures to precisely control droplet movement. These two structures were replicated in polymer and subsequently fused into a single multiscale hierarchical mold through a partial curing process. The completed multiscale hierarchical surface was then replicated with PDMS to create anisotropy that governs the direction of droplet movement. We experimentally confirmed that the degree of sliding is influenced by the cone pattern. Our proposed structural design demonstrates that anisotropic wettability control is achievable even on surfaces made from a single material, indicating potential applications in various fields such as microfluidics, sensors, and functional surfaces.

This study quantitatively examines the impact of ultraviolet (UV) intensity and energy on the formation of high aspect ratio (HAR) microstructures using the Self-Propagating Photopolymer Waveguide (SPPW) process. This mechanism relies on the self-focusing of UV light within a refractive index gradient, allowing the light to propagate and polymerize vertically beyond the initial exposure zone. Experiments were performed at UV intensities of 7.5, 12.5, and 17.5 mW/cm², with energy levels ranging from 0.0375 to 13.5 J/cm². The results indicated that a lower UV intensity of 7.5 mW/cm² produced uniform and vertically elongated structures, achieving a maximum aspect ratio of 12.26 at 0.9 J/cm². In contrast, higher UV intensities led to lateral over-curing, base expansion, and shape distortion, primarily due to rapid polymerization and the oxygen inhibition effect. These findings emphasize the importance of precisely controlling both UV intensity and energy to produce uniform, vertically aligned HAR microstructures, offering valuable insights for optimizing the SPPW process in future microfabrication applications.

A study investigated hydrogen permeability in sulfur-cured NBR composites filled with carbon black (CB) and silica, using volumetric analysis across pressures ranging from 1.2 to 92.6 MPa. Both pure NBR and MT CB- and silica-filled NBR exhibited a single sorption mechanism that followed Henry’s law, indicating hydrogen absorption into the polymer chains. In contrast, HAF CB-filled NBR displayed dual sorption behavior, adhering to both Henry’s law and the Langmuir model, which suggests additional hydrogen adsorption at the filler interface. Hydrogen diffusivity in NBR followed Knudsen diffusion at low pressures and bulk diffusion at high pressures. In HAF CB-filled NBR, permeability decreased exponentially with increasing density, while in MT CB- and silica-filled NBR, it declined linearly. The strong polymer-filler interactions in HAF CB significantly influenced permeability. Permeability trends closely correlated with hardness, tensile strength, and density, allowing for the establishment of quantitative relationships between these physical and mechanical properties. These findings indicate that analyzing these properties can predict hydrogen permeability, positioning NBR composites as promising sealing materials for high-pressure hydrogen storage in refueling stations and fuel cell vehicles.