Membrane electrode assembly for PEM water electrolysis capable of improving the electrical conductivity of the electrode layer and method of manufacturing thereof

A method for fabricating a membrane-electrode assembly for polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) water electrolysis, the method comprising the steps of:

• (1) preparing an anode catalyst slurry containing an anode catalyst and an ion-conducting polymer and applying the anode catalyst slurry to a surface of a transfer film to construct an anode electrode;
• wherein the anode catalyst is iridium oxide (IrO2);
• (2) preparing a cathode catalyst slurry containing a cathode catalyst and an ion-conducting polymer and applying the cathode catalyst slurry to a surface of a transfer film to construct a cathode electrode;
• wherein the cathode catalyst is platinum-coated carbon powder (Pt/C);
• (3) transferring the anode electrode and the cathode electrode to opposite surfaces of a polymer electrolyte membrane, respectively;
• and
• (4) coating the anode electrode with platinum to form a platinum layer on a surface of the anode electrode by argon sputtering;
• wherein a thickness of the platinum layer formed by the sputtering ranges from 40 to 100 nm.