Nanostructured coatings of TiCxNy as a sublayer of electrodes for devices with a proton exchange membrane

In this paper, the effect of nanostructured coatings based on various titanium compounds as a sublayer on the performance characteristics of electrodes in electrochemical devices was investigated. Gas diffusion layers (GDL), namely, hydrophilic carbon cloth of Russian production, with a catalyst applied, were used as electrodes. The sublayer was applied to the GDL using the magnetron sputtering method. This leads to a formation film of various compositions (nitrides, carbides and carbonitrides of titanium) and structures (dense or porous), due to changes in a large number of deposition parameters, such as temperature, pressure, impurity concentration, etc. The obtained GDL samples with a coating were studied using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction phase analysis and energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis. Tests of coatings as a part of electrodes / anodes were carried out in an electrolysis cell with proton exchange membrane (PEM) to determine the effect of a sublayer on the efficiency and durability of cell work. The tests have shown that the use of coatings based on titanium carbonitride as a sublayer in the electrode’s composition allows to double electrochemical devices service lifetime.