Catalyst coated membranes for fuel cell and water electrolyser delamination induced by organic solution soaking and water ultrasonication

This study presents a novel room-temperature, two-step process for separating catalyst-coated membranes (CCMs) used in fuel cells and water electrolysers. The method not only achieves a clean separation of the central membrane from the catalyst materials but also preserves the catalyst, thereby avoiding any potential hazardous gas release. The process involves a brief one-minute soak in an optimised solution, followed by a 10–12 minutes low-power ultrasonic treatment in water. The effectiveness of various organic (acetone, ethanol, ethylene glycol, hexane, and toluene) and aqueous (CaCl2, HCl, NaOH, NH4Cl) soaking solutions was thoroughly investigated to identify the optimal conditions for achieving near-pristine, separated membranes. This safe and efficient approach offers a promising strategy for CCM recycling, promoting resource recovery and economic benefits in clean energy technologies.