Three-dimensional graphene as gas diffusion layer for micro direct methanol fuel cell

Abstract

The gas diffusion layer (GDL), as an important structure of the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) of the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), provides a support layer for the catalyst and the fuel and the product channel. Traditionally, the material of GDL is generally carbon paper (CP). In this paper, a new material, namely three-dimensional graphene (3DG) is used as GDL for micro DMFC. The experimental results reveal that the performance of the DMFC has been improved significantly by application of 3DG. The peak powers increase from 25 mW to 31.2 mW and 32 mW by using 3DG as the anode and cathode GDL instead of CP, respectively. The reason may be the decrease of charge and mass transfer resistance of the cell. This means that the unique 3D porous architecture of the 3DG can provide lower contact resistance and sufficient fuel diffusion paths. The output performance of the cell will be further improved when porous metal current collectors is used.

Reduced Graphene Oxide/Carbon Paper for the Anode Diffusion Layer of a Micro Direct Methanol Fuel Cell

“…A better performance was obtained when using bilayer structures for the anode DL and current collector rather than CPs. Zhu et al [ 12 ] used three-dimensional graphene (3DG) for the gas DL of a DMFC, which can provide a low contact resistance and a sufficient fuel diffusion path. Zhu et al [ 13 ] designed a new button-type DMFC with a 3DG GDL and a built-in spring.…”

“…The physical properties of a DL, as a reactant/product transfer channel and a support structure for the CL, have a very profound effect on the electrochemical reactions in the cell [ 14 , 18 ], such as gas–liquid two-phase mass transfer [ 10 , 12 , 13 , 15 , 17 ], ohmic polarization [ 12 , 13 , 19 ], and methanol crossover [ 10 , 15 , 16 , 17 ]. Graphene is highly conductive and mechanically and chemically stable; thus, it is widely used in DLs in DMFCs [ 10 , 12 , 13 , 15 , 20 ]. However, its processability and manufacturing costs are the main obstacles to its large-scale commercialization [ 12 ].…”

Review of Graphene in Cathode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries

“…At the same time, the 2D planar structure makes it possible to form point-to-surface contact with the positive material particles. Therefore, it is expected to replace carbon nanotubes in the field of lithium-ion batteries or use them in combination with carbon nanotubes. − For example, Gao et al mixed 2% graphene and graphene nanoribbons into LiFePO 4 (LFP), and graphene and graphene nanoribbons uniformly wrapped LFP particles and formed an effective conductive network. Under the test condition of 5 C, the cathode material energy density is 1020 Wh L –1 and the power density is 5.1 kW L –1 .…”

Highly effective three-dimensional functionalization of graphite to graphene by wet chemical exfoliation methods

“…The current work is aimed at the elaboration of new synthesis pathways of porous 3D graphene being, in fact, a complex structure built of glued graphene flakes. New knowledge on the principles of 3D structuring of graphene will open up new practical applications for such materials as adsorbents, catalysts and electrode material in electric power devices like fuel cells (Mao et al 2015;Zhu et al 2018), supercapacitors (Li et al 2015(Li et al , 2018Wang and Xu 2016;Ping et al 2017), Li-ion batteries (Cai et al 2017;Cheng et al 2017) and photovoltaic cells (Ma and Chen 2015;Han et al 2014;Zhang et al 2013;Fan et al 2012;Yu et al 2015). Moreover, porous 3D graphene may improve the performance of solar cells (Acika and Darling 2016; Zhang et al 2015;Roy-Mayhew and Aksay 2014;Lim et al 2017).…”