Poly(1,5-diaminoanthraquinone)-Modified Gas Diffusion Backing by Electrochemical Deposition

Abstract

In this study, poly(1,5-diaminoanthraquinone) (P15DAAQ) was deposited on carbon fiber of gas diffusion backing (GDB) by electrochemical deposition to improve the water management ability of the gas diffusion layer (GDL). The morphology of carbon fibers of GDB was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, and the pore structure of GDBs was characterized by microcomputed tomography. The polarization curve and the limiting current method were used to study the performance and water management capabilities of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. The results show that the performance of P15DAAQ-GDB is better than that of traditional GDB modified by hydrophobic treatment with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) under high relative humidity and high current density. The highest power density reaches 1.984 W·cm–2, which is 41.3% higher than that obtained under traditional PTFE hydrophobic treatment. The oxygen mass transfer resistance of P15DAAQ-GDL is smaller than that of PTFE-GDL, and the dry region (<4240 mA·cm–2) is wider than that of PTFE-GDL (<3600 mA·cm–2). These results indicate that P15DAAQ-GDL exhibits better oxygen mass transfer and water management capabilities thanPTFE-GDL.

Review on Electric Resistance in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells: Advances and Outlook

“…Xing et al combined reinforcement-embedding technology with a direct membrane deposition approach, achieving relatively low electric resistance. Other efforts to significantly lower electric resistance include the development of novel preparation methods, such as a new wet-bonding strategy for MEA , and an electrochemical deposition approach for GDL …”

“…Other efforts to significantly lower electric resistance include the development of novel preparation methods, such as a new wet-bonding strategy for MEA 174,175 and an electrochemical deposition approach for GDL. 176 Lee et al 44 introduced a novel BPP composed of carbon fiber/polypropylene (PP)/polyethylene (PE) composite sheets infused with multiwall carbon nanotubes using a compression process. Their findings revealed an enhancement in electrical conductivity, particularly when leveraging the double percolation effect.…”