Some Improvements on Wettability and Internal Resistance of Modified Micro‐porous Layer for Direct Methanol Fuel Cell

Abstract

Micro‐porous layer (MPL) is an essential component of the membrane electrode assembly in a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). It enables proton transport and maintains the stability of gas diffusion layers. The wettability and internal resistance of MPL directly affect the cell output power density. Herein, a hydrophilic MPL is developed on the anode side of DMFC by depositing Ag‐modified carbon nano‐fiber powder (CNFP). The modification improves the diffusion of methanol–water solution into the anode catalytic layer, leading to an increased catalytic reaction rate and output power density. Moreover, thanks to the lower electrical resistance of CNFP/Ag, the cell's charge transfer and mass transfer resistances can be reduced, which leverage the power densities at different concentrations. The experimental results show that the peak power density of the modified MPL is increased by 42.2% from to . The charge transfer resistance is reduced by 34.8% from to and a reduction of 43.1% from to for the mass transfer resistance.