Impact of Cathode Fabrication on MEA Performance in PEFCs

Abstract

We reported that the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) using a hydrophilic micro porous layer (MPL) showed much better performance in a wide range of pressure and humidity conditions than that using a hydrophobic MPL. When operating an MEA, it usually needs to be humidified in order to maintain conductivity of the membrane. However, operation without humidification is critical to the commercialization of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) for backup power and automotive applications. We, therefore, evaluated MEAs at 60 ºC, at the H 2 /air stoichiometric ratio of 1.4/5.0, without humidification, in addition to the normal conditions of 80 ºC, 100 & 30 %RH. We found that the MEA employing a Gas Diffusion Electrode (GDE) method on the hydrophilic MPL showed the best performance under a very dry condition, suggesting the importance of the interface between the cathode and the MPL.

Impact of Cathode Fabrication on MEA Performance in PEFCs

“…We reported (1, 2) that MEA performance is largely dependent of the combinations of hydrophobic and hydrophilic materials used for anode and cathode GDLs; the best performance was obtained for the MEA using a hydrophilic GDL for the cathode. We also showed (3) the difference in MEA structure and performance between the MEA using a hydrophobic MPL for the cathode GDL and that using a hydrophilic single-layer MPL for the cathode GDL. Here we report the impact of cathode fabrication on MEA performance using a hydrophilic/hydrophobic MPL for the cathode GDL.…”

Self-Supporting Microporous Layer for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells

“…It is therefore important to reduce the thickness of each constituent material to increase the power density per cell stack volume. Although the electrolyte membrane and electrocatalyst layer have already been made thinner down to about 10 μm, the GDL with MPL is still as thick as 150 μm (2,6,7). It is also desired to reduce gas diffusion resistance by reducing the GDL thickness to 50 μm or below (2).…”