The centrifugal electrospinning method is employed to fabricate platinum (Pt) nanowires and its application for proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is evaluated. The nanowires are produced from a polymer solution containing hexachloroplatinic acid hydrate as Pt precursor and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP). The effects of system parameters on the morphology of Pt nanowires are studied including the PVP concentration, rotation speed of spinneret, and applied electric field. The electrochemically active surface area (ESA) of the Pt nanowires is characterized by cyclic voltammetry tests. The produced Pt nanowires are also used as electrocatalysts in the cathode of PEMFC and the cell performance is tested. Results show the centrifugal electrospinning method can successfully produce Pt nanowires with mean diameter of 54 ± 14 nm and ESA of 5.64m 2 g -1 , which are comparable to those of traditional electrospun Pt nanowires. The production rate of Pt nanowires can be improved greatly in comparison with the conventional electrospinning technique. It is also found that by the accelerated degradation tests, Pt nanowires demonstrate better durability than commercial Pt/C and the employment of Pt nanowires as electrocatalysts mixed with Pt/C can enhance the fuel cell performance. The present results reveal the centrifugal electrospinning method is an efficient approach to fabricate Pt nanowires for the application in PEMFCs. Novelty statement• A centrifugal electrospinning device was designed to fabricate Pt nanowires successfully with good morphology.• The production rate of Pt nanowires is enhanced greatly in comparison with the conventional electrospinning method.

This study investigates the gas permeability, conductivity and performance of two types of gas diffusion layer (90 g m–2 and 190 g m–2) with various hydrophobic treatments. The performance is measured using a single proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) with an active area of 25 cm2. The results prove that 90 g m–2 carbon paper has the best current density in 5% hydrophobic concentration. The polarisation curves of fuel cell were plotted by similar operating conditions with different micro‐porous layers (MPLs) on carbon papers surface. These results provide a wide choice of hydrophobic agents. These results concerning the balance between base weights and performance provide important information for the fabrication of stacks and support for industrial applications.

The research for this paper was focused on novel design, fabrication, and characterization about a micro capillary pumped loop (Micro-CPL) evaporator chamber. Ribs or nozzle diffuser have been employed in this chamber, those structures prevented back flow and ensured rapid spreading of cooling liquid in the evaporator chamber. Experimental results had demonstrated that a greatest flow velocity of 206.9 mm/s could be obtained at a situation for rib width was 5 μm and aspect ratio was 15. Spreading time was increased gradually as increase at the depth of the rib. On the other hand, nozzle-diffuser structure yields smoother and faster liquid spreading in the chamber than that of rib structures. The minimum rib width with 2 μm by DRIE could carry out a back pressure of 55 kPa, hence, it was large enough for micro CPL application.