Development of an optimal gas diffusion medium for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells and assessment of its degradation mechanisms

Latorrata, Saverio; Stampino, Paola Gallo; Cristiani, Cinzia; Dotelli, Giovanni

doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2015.05.100

Cited by 29 publications

(76 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…Flow rates were 0.25 and 1.0 NL min −1 for hydrogen and air, respectively [5]. Such values correspond to stoichiometric ratios of 1.2 for hydrogen and 2.0 for air, both calculated at 30 A.…”

Section: Characterizationsupporting

confidence: 71%

“…The latter (10% by weight) were used to make final coatings more conductive [5] than those based on the unique pure carbon black (CB) [5]. Moreover, FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene) was employed as hydrophobic agent instead of commonly used PTFE, due to already proven higher hydrophobicity of the final product [23].…”

Section: Preparationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(Milan, Italy), and isopropyl alcohol (IPA (Sigma Aldrich S.r.l., Milan, Italy)) were mixed in deionized water; then, CB and CNTs were gradually added. The mixture was stirred and homogenized by a high shear mixer (UltraTurrax T25 (IKA-Werke GmbH, Staufen, Germany)) for ten minutes [5,23]. Four different mass ratios FEP/(CB + CNTs), from 0.03 to 0.12, were employed.…”

Section: Preparationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A commercial catalyst coated membrane (CCM), supplied by Baltic Fuel Cells, Schwerin, Germany, with an active area of 23.04 cm 2 was employed as membrane electrode assembly (MEA). Platinum loading was 0.3 and 0.6 mg cm −2 at the anode and at the cathode, respectively and the used electrolyte was Nafion 212 [5].…”

Section: Characterizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Among different types of devices, polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have been extensively investigated [1][2][3][4][5][6] due to their limited working temperature, high output power density, large and flexible operating range [7]. A fundamental factor for an optimal running of such devices is a correct balanced water management [1,8], which must be properly addressed to have high and constant efficiency during device operation [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Performance Evaluation and Durability Enhancement of FEP-Based Gas Diffusion Media for PEM Fuel Cells

et al. 2017

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Nowadays, micro-porous layers (MPLs) for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are commonly deposited onto gas diffusion layer (GDL) substrates starting from hydrophobic carbon-based dispersions. In this work, different quantities of fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), a fluorinated copolymer proven to be superior to polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) for a proper water management, were used to make both GDL and MPL hydrophobic. After the identification of the optimal amount of FEP, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) was also added to gas diffusion media (GDM) to reduce overall ohmic resistance of the whole device and adhesion of MPLs to GDLs. Ex-situ chemical and mechanical accelerated stress tests (ASTs) were carried out to accelerate degradation of materials aiming to assess their durability. The highest quantity of FEP in GDMs led to the best electrochemical and diffusive properties. The presence of CMC allowed reducing overall ohmic resistance due to a better electrolyte hydration. A satisfactory durability was proven since the fundamental properties related to gas diffusion medium, such as wettability, ohmic and mass transport resistances, revealed to be quasi-stable upon ASTs.

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Section: Characterizationsupporting

confidence: 71%

Section: Preparationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Preparationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Characterizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Performance Evaluation and Durability Enhancement of FEP-Based Gas Diffusion Media for PEM Fuel Cells

et al. 2017

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Evaluation of Graphene Nanoplatelets as a Microporous Layer Material for PEMFC: Performance and Durability Analysis

et al. 2019

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In this paper, the effect of different carbonaceous phases in microporous layers (MPLs) for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is reported. A conventional ink with carbon black (CB) powder and an innovative one featuring graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) have been produced and used to coat carbon cloth gas diffusion layers (GDLs). Morphological and electrical properties of these samples have been assessed and then compared to determine which characteristics contribute to a possible enhancement of the fuel cell performance. Static contact angle measurements have revealed a similar hydrophobic character for both samples. Through-plane water permeability and porosity of the samples have been correlated to the optimal working tempera-ture: GNPs-based MPLs provide the best performance in dry condition (T = 80°C, RH = 60%), while CB-based samples work better in more humid conditions. Instead, the electrical conductivity of the samples have not displayed a strong influence on the polarization curve of the cell. In addition, an ex situ mechanical accelerated stress test (AST) has been performed on both samples to assess their durability and understand which factors could lengthen their lifetime. GNPsbased samples resisted better under the harsh conditions imposed during the AST and a possible optimization of this ink composition is proposed for future development.

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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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Development of an optimal gas diffusion medium for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells and assessment of its degradation mechanisms

Cited by 29 publications

References 50 publications

Performance Evaluation and Durability Enhancement of FEP-Based Gas Diffusion Media for PEM Fuel Cells

Performance Evaluation and Durability Enhancement of FEP-Based Gas Diffusion Media for PEM Fuel Cells

Evaluation of Graphene Nanoplatelets as a Microporous Layer Material for PEMFC: Performance and Durability Analysis

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

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