Perfluoropolyether-functionalized gas diffusion layers for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Gola, Massimo; Sansotera, Maurizio; Navarrini, W.; Bianchi, Claudia L.; Stampino, Paola Gallo; Latorrata, Saverio; Dotelli, Giovanni

doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2014.02.025

Cited by 26 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Latorrata et al [42,112,113] have employed both of these polymers in GDLs and MPLs and compared their behaviors to PTFE and FEP, which are more consolidated alternatives. PFA, like FEP, seems to induce a higher hydrophobic character, while PFPE is correlated to a larger cumulative pore volume of the obtained GDM [41,[114][115][116]. Single fuel cell analyses have revealed that the first two materials perform better in more humid conditions, while the latter in drier atmospheres and higher operating temperatures.…”

Section: Fepmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Fluorinated Polymers in the Water Management of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells: A Review

et al. 2021

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As the hydrogen market is projected to grow in the next decades, the development of more efficient and better-performing polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is certainly needed. Water management is one of the main issues faced by these devices and is strictly related to the employment of fluorinated materials in the gas diffusion medium (GDM). Fluorine-based polymers are added as hydrophobic agents for gas diffusion layers (GDL) or in the ink composition of microporous layers (MPL), with the goal of reducing the risk of membrane dehydration and cell flooding. In this review, the state of the art of fluorinated polymers for fuel cells is presented. The most common ones are polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), however, other compounds such as PFA, PVDF, PFPE, and CF4 have been studied and reported. The effects of these materials on device performances are analyzed and described. Particular attention is dedicated to the influence of polymer content on the variation of the fuel cell component properties, namely conductivity, durability, hydrophobicity, and porosity, and on the PEMFC behavior at different current densities and under multiple operating conditions.

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Section: Fepmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Fluorinated Polymers in the Water Management of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells: A Review

et al. 2021

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“…The heat treatment temperature was reduced from 350˝C to 260˝C using FEP and the Ohmic resistance was reduced using highly conductive CNTs. In Gola's study [156], carbon cloth was used as a substrate and linear perfluoropolyether (PFPE) peroxide was used as a hydrophobic material. The PFPE content was only 0.24-1.03 wt % and hydrophobicity was observed up to a PTFE content as high as 10%.…”

Section: Pretreatment Of Gdl Substrates and Preparation Of Hydrophobimentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent Progress on the Key Materials and Components for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells in Vehicle Applications

Wang

Peng

et al. 2016

Energies

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Fuel cells are the most clean and efficient power source for vehicles. In particular, proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are the most promising candidate for automobile applications due to their rapid start-up and low-temperature operation. Through extensive global research efforts in the latest decade, the performance of PEMFCs, including energy efficiency, volumetric and mass power density, and low temperature startup ability, have achieved significant breakthroughs. In 2014, fuel cell powered vehicles were introduced into the market by several prominent vehicle companies. However, the low durability and high cost of PEMFC systems are still the main obstacles for large-scale industrialization of this technology. The key materials and components used in PEMFCs greatly affect their durability and cost. In this review, the technical progress of key materials and components for PEMFCs has been summarized and critically discussed, including topics such as the membrane, catalyst layer, gas diffusion layer, and bipolar plate. The development of high-durability processing technologies is also introduced. Finally, this review is concluded with personal perspectives on the future research directions of this area.

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“…MPL is usually prepared starting from an ink based on carbon nanoparticles mixed with a hydrophobic polymeric agent . The hydrophobizing treatment of GDLs with appropriate low surface energy agents allows the removal of water produced by the fuel cell , , . Typically, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) has been employed as hydrophobic agent, for both backing and microporous layers , , but several alternatives have been also studied aiming to enhance performance of the fuel cell.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Typically, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) has been employed as hydrophobic agent, for both backing and microporous layers , , but several alternatives have been also studied aiming to enhance performance of the fuel cell. In this respect, GDLs have been treated with tetrafluoromethane (CF 4 ), trifluoromethane (CHF 3 ) or sulfur hexafluoride (SF 6 ) plasma , , polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) , fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) , perfluoropolyether derivatives (PFPE) , , , perfluoralcoxy (PFA) , electrochemically reduced diazonium salts and silicone nanolayers . The dip‐coating process is the most used method for the deposition of hydrophobizing agents , , , , even though other techniques, such as chemical grafting , or dry plasma deposition process , , have been also exploited in order to overcome the issues related to wet processes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The peroxidic moieties along the molecular structure of the PFPE peroxide produce PFPE radicals by thermal decomposition and the perfluorinated radicals chemically functionalize the carbonaceous structure of carbon cloth (CC) and CB . In a previous research, it was observed that the conductive properties of CB and CC treated with PFPE peroxide were maintained, even if their surfaces became superhydrophobic due to the functionalization . However, PFPEs are characterized by low intermolecular forces and great chain flexibility, which overall result in poor mechanical properties which are not enough to sustain the MPL on the MPS of the GDL .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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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Perfluoropolyether-functionalized gas diffusion layers for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Cited by 26 publications

References 24 publications

The Role of Fluorinated Polymers in the Water Management of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells: A Review

The Role of Fluorinated Polymers in the Water Management of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells: A Review

Recent Progress on the Key Materials and Components for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells in Vehicle Applications

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

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