Development and Characterization of Gas Diffusion Layer Fabricated Using Carbon Slurry with Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate for Proton Exchange Member Fuel Cells

Abstract

The microporous layer of the gas diffusion layers (GDLs) was fabricated with the carbon slurry dispersed in water containing ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS) using the wire rod coating method and evaluated the effects on PEMFC performance. GDLs were also fabricated with the carbon slurry dispersed in water containing sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with isopropyl alcohol (IPA) based for fuel cell performance comparison. Membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) with GDLs fabricated using MWCNTs and SDS exhibit the highest performance at 60 and 70% RH with a peak power density of 1100 and 850 mW.cm -2 using oxygen and air as an oxidant, respectively. This means that the gas diffusion characteristics of these two samples were optimum at 60 and 70% RH with extremely high limiting current density values. It was also found that the composition of the carbon slurry, specifically ALS concentration has the highest peak power density of 1300 and 500 mW.cm -2 for both H 2 /O 2 and H 2 /Air at 100% RH, respectively. However, SDS and MWCNTs based GDLs exhibited the lowest peak power density values using air as well as with oxygen as an oxidants at 100% RH. Fig. 12. Peak power density values and the corresponding HFR values for MEAs with GDLs fabricated using ALS, MWCNTs + ALS and SDS. CHEMICAL SOCIETY

Toward Flexible Zinc–Air Batteries with Self‐Supported Air Electrodes

“…[51,52] Hence, regulation of transfer network plays important roles to improve the power density at high current density. [53][54][55] Traditionally, triple-phase mass transfer is achieved and optimized by casting and coating of electrocatalysts on the porous substrates with the assistance of polymeric binders (such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)) to adjust porosity and surface properties (hydrophobic/hydrophilic property). [56][57][58] Alternatively, the new fabrication techniques for in situ growth of bifunctional array electrocatalysts on flexible substrates, carbon cloths (CC), conductive polymer, stainless steel mesh, and metal foam) [59][60][61][62][63][64][65] and new manufacturing techniques including electrospinning to form free-standing flexible films of 3D porous structures provide new opportunity to rationally design advanced flexible electrodes.…”