TY - GEN
T1 - Influence of hydrophilic and hydrophobic double MPL coated GDL on PEFC performance
AU - Kitahara, T.
AU - Nakajima, H.
AU - Mori, K.
AU - Inamoto, M.
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - Gas diffusion layers (GDLs) coated with a hydrophobic microporous layer (MPL) have been commonly used to improve water management properties of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). In the present study, a novel hydrophilic and hydrophobic double MPL coated GDL was developed to further enhance the PEFC performance under both low and high humidity conditions. Under low humidity conditions, a thin hydrophilic layer using titanium dioxide coated on the hydrophobic MPL is effective to conserve the humidity of the MEA, while a hydrophobic intermediate MPL between the hydrophilic layer and the GDL substrate prevents the removal of water in the hydrophilic layer. Under high humidity conditions, a double MPL coated GDL is also effective to reduce flooding on the cathode catalyst layer, which results in a higher PEFC performance compared with that for a conventional hydrophobic MPL coated GDL.
AB - Gas diffusion layers (GDLs) coated with a hydrophobic microporous layer (MPL) have been commonly used to improve water management properties of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). In the present study, a novel hydrophilic and hydrophobic double MPL coated GDL was developed to further enhance the PEFC performance under both low and high humidity conditions. Under low humidity conditions, a thin hydrophilic layer using titanium dioxide coated on the hydrophobic MPL is effective to conserve the humidity of the MEA, while a hydrophobic intermediate MPL between the hydrophilic layer and the GDL substrate prevents the removal of water in the hydrophilic layer. Under high humidity conditions, a double MPL coated GDL is also effective to reduce flooding on the cathode catalyst layer, which results in a higher PEFC performance compared with that for a conventional hydrophobic MPL coated GDL.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84885788869&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84885788869&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1149/05002.0437ecst
DO - 10.1149/05002.0437ecst
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:84885788869
SN - 9781607683506
T3 - ECS Transactions
SP - 437
EP - 444
BT - Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells 12, PEFC 2012
PB - Electrochemical Society Inc.
T2 - 12th Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Symposium, PEFC 2012 - 222nd ECS Meeting
Y2 - 7 October 2012 through 12 October 2012
ER -