Design, Manufacturing, and Characterization of High‐Performance Lightweight Bipolar Plates Based on Carbon Nanotube‐Exfoliated Graphite Nanoplatelet Hybrid Nanocomposites

Abstract

We report a study on manufacturing and characterization of a platform material for high-performance lightweight bipolar plates for fuel cells based on nanocomposites consisting of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets (xGnPs). The experiments were designed and performed in three steps. In the preexperimental stage, xGnP-epoxy composite samples were prepared at various xGnP weight percentages to determine the maximum processable nanofiller concentration. The main part of the experiment employed the statistics-based design of experiments (DOE) methodology to identify improved processing conditions and CNT : xGnP ratio for minimized electrical resistivity. In the postexperimental stage, optimized combinations of material and processing parameters were investigated. With the aid of a reactive diluent, 20 wt.% was determined to the be maximum processable carbon nanomaterial content in the epoxy. The DOE analyses revealed that the CNT : xGnP ratio is the most dominant factor that governs the electrical properties, and its implications in relation to CNT-xGnP interactions and microstructure are elucidated. In addition, samples fabricated near the optimized condition revealed that there exists an optimal CNT : xGnP ratio at which the electrical performance can be maximized. The electrical and mechanical properties of optimal samples suggest that CNT-xGnP hybrid nanocomposites can serve as an alternative material platform for affordable, lightweight bipolar plates.

A review of exfoliated graphite

“…This composite is an example of a multi-scale (hierarchical) composite. The combined incorporation of GNP and CNT in epoxy gives a hybrid polymer-matrix composite that is attractive for use as the bipolar plate of a fuel cell [119].…”

Influencia de la temperatura en la energía de banda prohibida de nanoplaquetas de grafeno oxidado reducido según el modelo de Varshni

“…All these effects can be profited in advanced thermo-electrical, electronic, magnetic, optical, photomechanical, and electro-optical devices and sensors (Tang et al, 2008). GO platelets can be used in batteries (Kim et al, 2012;Prusty & Swain, 2012;Matsuo & Ueda, 2014;Zou et al, 2015), electrical energy storage (Lobato et al, 2014;Singh & Chandra, 2013), advanced electronic sensors and devices (Ghosh et al, 2014;Wei et al, 2009;Zhang et al, 2012;Llatser et al, 2012;Mishra & Ramaprabhu, 2012;Grande et al, 2012;Sangwan et al, 2011;He & Tjong, 2013), catalysis (Geng et al, 2014), metal sorption (Petit & Bandosz, 2015), hydrogen storage (Xue et al, 2014), carbon dioxide sorption (Arango-Hoyos et al, 2023), and to obtain graphene oxide (Liu et al, 2015;Jia et al, 2014;Kyzas et al, 2014;Tang et al, 2012).…”

Performance Evaluation for Ultra-Lightweight Epoxy-Based Bipolar Plate Production with Cycle Time Reduction of Reactive Molding Process

“…An adequate fuel cell powertrain for the given applications depends upon weight and volume limitations, vehicle power, energy requirements, and the characteristics of the fuel cell stack [ 8 ]. To achieve the demands of mobility applications, researchers have attempted to optimize the design and fabrication of the key components, in the weight effect, such as bipolar plates, current collectors, end plates, and stack hardware [ 10 , 11 ]. The increase in hydrogen storage density, storage techniques, and the development of lightweight hydrogen cylinders was also addressed in order to reduce the weight of fuel cell propulsion systems for light-duty vehicles [ 12 ].…”

“…A bipolar plate (BP) is one of the most important components of PEMFC that contributes considerably to the weight of the PEMFC stacks and the cost structure. BPs account for nearly 70% of the PEMFC weight and 30–45% of the cost of PEMFCs [ 10 , 11 ]. Lower weight or fewer bipolar plates is demanded to acquire a generated output power with the desired electrical transport between fuel cells in a stack that leads toward market acceptance.…”