{
  "abstract": "The widespread use of fluoropolymers in electrochemical energy systems, coupled with increasing environmental, health, and regulatory concerns surrounding per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), is motivating the development of fluorine-free alternatives. Here, silicone-based resins are evaluated as fluorine-free binders for microporous layers (MPLs) and integrated into fully fluorine-free gas diffusion media (GDMs). Using Sylgard 184 silicone elastomer, the binder content was systematically varied, identifying 25 wt.% as the lowest loading that provided sufficient water repellency. At this loading, the influence of binder chemistry was investigated by replacing Sylgard 184 with KR-220L, a methyl silicone rigid resin. Although the resin chemistry strongly affected MPL thickness, porosity, and crack formation, its impact on fuel-cell performance was limited. Fully fluorinefree GDMs were then fabricated by depositing silicone-based MPLs onto carbon fiber substrates hydrophobized via organosilicon electrografting. Replacing a commercial PTFEtreated substrate with the fluorine-free electrografted substrate resulted in only a minor decrease in current density, from 4.2 to 4.0 A cm-2 at 0.3 V under high-humidity conditions; both exceeded the commercial fluorinated reference (3.8 A cm-2). Accelerated stress testing further demonstrated promising durability. Overall, silicone-based materials represent a viable route toward replacing fluorinated components in GDMs.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Chemical Engineering and Chemistry , Eindhoven University of Technology, Het Kranenveld 14, Eindhoven, North Brabant , Netherlands, 5600MB"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 3,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Irene Sinisgalli",
      "orcid": "0009-0004-9074-7374"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Nicolaas J. M. van Leth"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Antoni Forner-Cuenca"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/6ck8vq8z3gymd.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.26434/chemrxiv.15008053/v1",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "6ck8vq8z3gymd",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15008053/v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2208|Fuel Cells and Related Materials"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7204824989",
  "pdf_url": "https://chemrxiv.org/doi/pdf/10.26434/chemrxiv.15008053/v1",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-08-30",
  "publisher": "American Chemical Society (ACS)",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/6ck8vq8z3gymd.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:17Z",
      "native_id": "10.26434/chemrxiv.15008053",
      "source": "chemrxiv",
      "url": "https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15008053/v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "source:chemrxiv",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Fluorine-Free Gas Diffusion Media for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells Part I: Silicone-based Microporous Layers",
  "title_text": "Fluorine-Free Gas Diffusion Media for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells Part I: Silicone-based Microporous Layers",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:17Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/6ck8vq8z3gymd",
  "venue": "ChemRxiv",
  "versions": []
}