EIS and local resolved current density distribution analysis on effects of MPL on PEMFC performance at varied humidification

Jing, Shan; Lin, Rui; Chen, Xiadong; Diao, Xiaoyu

doi:10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2018.08.033

Cited by 59 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…As well known, the transport of liquid water in the GDL mainly depends on microstructures and hydrophobicity of pores [5]. Various approaches have been adopted to optimize or modify the porous structures of the GDL for efficient water removal, such as addition of microporous layer (MPL) [7][8][9][10], polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) treatment [11][12][13] and usage of metal porous materials [14,15]. Shan et al [9] experimentally investigated the performance of GDL with/without MPL at different humidification conditions via a segmented cell technique.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Two-phase flow and oxygen transport in the perforated gas diffusion layer of proton exchange membrane fuel cell

Niu

Bao

et al. 2019

International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer

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Liquid water transport in perforated gas diffusion layers (GDLs) is numerically investigated using a threedimensional (3D) two-phase volume of fluid (VOF) model and a stochastic reconstruction model of GDL microstructures. Different perforation depths and diameters are investigated, in comparison with the GDL without perforation. It is found that perforation can considerably reduce the liquid water level inside a GDL. The perforation diameter (D = 100 lm) and the depth (H = 100 lm) show pronounced effect. In addition, two different perforation locations, i.e. the GDL center and the liquid water breakthrough point, are investigated. Results show that the latter perforation location works more efficiently. Moreover, the perforation perimeter wettability is studied, and it is found that a hydrophilic region around the perforation further reduces the water saturation. Finally, the oxygen transport in the partially-saturated GDL is studied using an oxygen diffusion model. Results indicate that perforation reduces the oxygen diffusion resistance in GDLs and improves the oxygen concentration at the GDL bottom up to 101% (D = 100 lm and H = 100 lm).

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Two-phase flow and oxygen transport in the perforated gas diffusion layer of proton exchange membrane fuel cell

Niu

Bao

et al. 2019

International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer

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“…To enhance the water recovery from cathode to anode, a large number of researchers have focused on the optimization of the MEA structure, especially for the DMFCs operated at highly concentrated or neat methanol. The basic principle is to build up a hydraulic liquid pressure in the cathode CL. , To achieve this, various methods have been applied, which include optimizing the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) content and carbon loadings in the cathode microporous layer, − introducing an additional hydrophobic layer, such as carbon paper or cloth, to the cathode gas diffusion layer (GDL). , With this design, more water can be transported back from the cathode to the anode, leading to a significant increase in the output performance. Another approach is to add a water retention layer consisting of superhydrophilic SiO 2 nanoparticles onto each side of the Nafion membrane, which helps to maintain a higher level of water concentration to enhance the water transportation to the anode.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Constructing a Cathode Catalyst Layer of a Passive Direct Methanol Fuel Cell with Highly Hydrophilic Carbon Aerogel for Improved Water Management

Wen

Hou

Zhang

et al. 2019

ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces

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Nitrogen-doped porous carbon materials show excellent water adsorption ability by forming strong hydrogen bonding between water molecules and the doped atoms. When these porous carbon materials are used to construct a water management layer (WML) of a passive direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), high water concentration and hydraulic pressure formed inside the cathode catalyst layer would facilitate the water recovery from cathode to anode. In this paper, a highly hydrophilic nitrogen-doped carbon aerogel was synthesized by the carbonization of hydrogel precursors composed of resorcinol, formaldehyde, and graphene oxide under ammonia, and it was used for the first time to construct the WML for liquid-feed and vapor-feed passive DMFCs. The results show that the WML significantly improves the output performance of the liquid-feed DMFC by enhancing the water recovery, which is characterized and proved by the smaller cathode polarization, the slightly increased anode polarization, and a released cathode water flooding situation. A new method was also proposed to study the in situ methanol crossover of DMFCs, which confirmed that the methanol crossover during the discharge was reduced by the WML. As for the vapor-feed DMFCs, the WML reduces both the cathode and anode polarizations significantly, which increases the output performance greatly. This study opens a new window for the design and optimization of the membrane assembly electrode of DMFCs.

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“…For impedance spectra collected at medium and at high current density, one more parallel circuit is added in series with cathodic charge transfer resistance in order to model mass transfer limitations (i.e., diffusion resistances) which arise upon increasing current density because of a higher amount of produced liquid water. Constant phase elements (CPE) were employed, instead of pure capacitors, to consider the capacitive losses which take place in non‐ideal porous electrodes , .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Innovative Perfluoropolyether‐Functionalized Gas Diffusion Layers with Enhanced Performance in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells

et al. 2020

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In this work, perfluoropolyether (PFPE) functionalization was used as hydrophizing treatment for gas diffusion layers (GDLs) in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), instead of standard PTFE coatings, aiming to enhance the hydrophobicity of the gas diffusion media and to reduce the mass transfer limitations in the final device. Carbon cloth diffusion layers and carbon black were functionalized by decomposition of a PFPE peroxide. PFPE-functionalized carbon black was employed in the preparation of an ink suitable for obtaining microporous layers (MPLs) by deposition onto macroporous backing layers. Dual-layer gas diffusion media showing superhydrophobic behavior due to different hydrophobizing treatments were compared with conventional PTFE-based materials, by testing in a single PEMFC working at two different temperatures and at low and high relative humidity conditions. Such tests demonstrated improved performances over conventional GDLs for pure PFPE-based samples in terms of both overall electrical performance and reduced diffusive limitations in high current density conditions. The maximum output power achieved with the novel PFPE-based compounds was 460 mW cm -2 at 80°C and relative humidity (RH) 100% while the best improvement (10%) with respect to conventional GDLs was realized at 80°C and RH 60%.

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EIS and local resolved current density distribution analysis on effects of MPL on PEMFC performance at varied humidification

Cited by 59 publications

References 22 publications

Two-phase flow and oxygen transport in the perforated gas diffusion layer of proton exchange membrane fuel cell

Two-phase flow and oxygen transport in the perforated gas diffusion layer of proton exchange membrane fuel cell

Constructing a Cathode Catalyst Layer of a Passive Direct Methanol Fuel Cell with Highly Hydrophilic Carbon Aerogel for Improved Water Management

Innovative Perfluoropolyether‐Functionalized Gas Diffusion Layers with Enhanced Performance in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells

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