One-step to prepare high-performance gas diffusion layer (GDL) with three different functional layers for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs)

Due to the control of porosity and pore size on mass transfer, the structure of the gas diffusion layer (GDL) has a critical impact on the performance of fuel cells. The bucky paper has high conductivity and abundant pores, which has potential to be used as GDL in fuel cells. Herein, a whole‐process solid template method is used to prepare the bucky paper with microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), whose porosity and pore size can be regulated quantitatively. The bucky paper with MCC as a pore‐forming agent has more larger pores, and these pores are mostly connected, which meet the needs of fuel cell application. The result of gas flux shows that the permeability of the bucky paper increases from the initial 12 to 240 mL min−1 kPa−1 cm−2 with MCC. The pore structure of bucky paper are significantly improved, so that the bucky paper with MCC leads to a higher fuel cell power density. Furthermore, the impedance result presents that with the addition of MCC, the mass transfer resistance of the fuel cells decreases significantly. It is fully supported in these results that MCC can modify the pores of the bucky paper and applied in proton exchange membrane fuel cells well.

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“…The temperature of hot‐pressing was 130 °C, the pressure was 40 kgf cm −2 , and the time was 2 min and finally we could get the MEA. [ 25 ]…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The temperature of hot-pressing was 130 °C, the pressure was 40 kgf cm À2 , and the time was 2 min and finally we could get the MEA. [25] Air Permeability Test: One of the most important functions of GDL in fuel cell was gas transmission, so to test the gas permeability of GDL was necessary. Here, we used a detection device.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Highly Permeable Bucky Paper for the Gas Diffusion Layer of Fuel Cell Prepared by a Whole‐Process Solid Template Method

Wen

Ning

et al. 2023

Energy Tech

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“…Chen 13 used carbon black and PTFE to prepare a sfGDL similar to microporous layers to significantly improve the gas transmission performance; however, poor electrical conductivity led to the cell performance being only half that of conventional GDL. Fu 14 prepared sfGDLs with gradient pores by exploiting different sedimentation and filtration rates of carbon fiber and carbon nanotubes and regulated the thickness of sfGDLs, obtaining the maximum power density of 1.02 W•cm −2 for the assembled cell. However, there still remain some challenges in the currently developed sfGDLs to enhance cell performance.…”

Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Substrate-Free Gas Diffusion Layer Based on a Nonsolvent-Induced Phase Inversion Approach for High-Performance Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Yao,

Li,

Zhang

et al. 2024

ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng.

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The superior mass transfer capacity of the gas diffusion layers (GDLs) is the key to the design and fabrication of a high-performance proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) for various applications. However, the conventional GDLs easily generate abrupt pore gradient change and interfacial resistance between the microporous layer and the carbon paper substrate, leading to mass transport limitation and ultimately leading to lower output power for the PEMFC. Here the substrate-free GDLs (sfGDLs) with varying thicknesses, bimodal pore distribution, and superhydrophobic surfaces were designed by nonsolvent-induced phase inversion and rapid solidification. The cell power density of sfGDL with thickness of 230 μm and mesopores of 85.41% exhibited maximal limiting current density of up to 6.31 A cm–2 and peak power density of 1.60 W cm–2 at high humidity, superior to that of sfGDLs reported in the literature under counterpart test conditions. In this work, the distinguishing performances verified that the synergistic effect of the appropriate thickness and abundant mesopores can significantly promote the mass transfer efficiency of membrane electrode assembly, ensuring gas transport to the catalyst layer and excellent cell performance.

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“…[8][9][10][11][12][13]. Functional components like graphite [6,14], carbon nanotubes (CNTs) [15][16][17][18][19][20][21], and carbon black (CB) [22] were introduced into the CFP in the process of PF impregnation. However, the increase of one property always accompanies sacrificing others in these methods, and these processes are much more complicated.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carbon Fiber Papers Prepared by Wet-Laid Technique Using PVB/PF Composite Fibers as the Binders

2023

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Carbon fiber paper (CFP) is one of the most important units of gas diffusion layer (GDL) in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The binder used in the wet-laid technique has a significant effect on the properties of CFP. In this work, the polyvinyl butyral/phenol-formaldehyde resin (PVB/PF) composite fibers firstly prepared by a dry spinning method were applied for CFP fabrication to replace traditional binders during the papermaking process and remove the PF impregnation process. In the composite fibers with a mass ratio of 5:5, PF phase with a size of about 2~3 μm evenly distributed in PVB matrix. PVB and PF were miscible to some degree, which was beneficial for their binding effect during hot-press. These composite fibers can successfully bind carbon fibers (CFs) during the papermaking process, and their residual carbon efficiently welded the CFs after heat treatment. The content and length of composite fibers in the mat affected the binding structure among CFs, which influenced the properties of CFP, increased the composite fibers’ content and reduced their length, significantly improving the strength of CFP. Therefore, the application of this solid fiber binder could enhance the comprehensive properties of CFP by adjusting the fibers’ parameters in the mat and also make the fabrication of CFP more environmentally friendly and low-cost.

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One-step to prepare high-performance gas diffusion layer (GDL) with three different functional layers for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs)

Cited by 18 publications

References 72 publications

Highly Permeable Bucky Paper for the Gas Diffusion Layer of Fuel Cell Prepared by a Whole‐Process Solid Template Method

Highly Permeable Bucky Paper for the Gas Diffusion Layer of Fuel Cell Prepared by a Whole‐Process Solid Template Method

Substrate-Free Gas Diffusion Layer Based on a Nonsolvent-Induced Phase Inversion Approach for High-Performance Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Carbon Fiber Papers Prepared by Wet-Laid Technique Using PVB/PF Composite Fibers as the Binders

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