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.
To reduce the use of fossil fuels, the adoption of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) using lithium-ion batteries has been increasing in internal combustion engine alternatives. Accordingly, significant efforts have been made to improve the manufacturing process of lithium-ion batteries within electric vehicles. In particular, the cutting process of lithium-ion batteries has been actively discussed as it is closely related to battery performance. Laser-based cutting enables a more precise and sustainable manufacturing process. The laser ablation threshold has been investigated in many studies to achieve high-precision laser processing. While laser parameters and ambient conditions have been examined to determine the laser ablation threshold, studies focusing on the effect of relative humidity remain insufficient. Thus, this study investigated the laser ablation threshold of aluminum foil under varying relative humidity conditions. First, a laser interaction chamber was fabricated to control the relative humidity during experiments. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was then used to observe laser ablation craters and analyze the threshold. The variation of the laser ablation threshold with relative humidity revealed changes in the interaction between the laser and aluminum foil depending on the humidity level.