TY - GEN
T1 - Best combination of gas diffusion layers for polymer electrolyte fuel cell under cathode condition of very low humidity
AU - Kitahara, T.
AU - Konomi, T.
AU - Nakajima, H.
AU - Tateishi, Y.
AU - Murata, M.
AU - Haak, N.
AU - Wilde, P.
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - The present study was carried out to find out the best combination of gas diffusion layers (GDLs) for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) operated under very low-humidity conditions at the cathode and high-humidity conditions at the anode using a test apparatus in which the clamp pressure on the cell could be accurately controlled. For cathode GDLs, it is important to maintain humidity and prevent dehydration of the MEA. A microporous layer (MPL) coating on the low-porosity carbon paper substrate is effective for enhancing PEFC performance. For anode GDLs, however, it is important to increase water transport from the humidified hydrogen gas to the MEA. An anode GDL with the MPL reduces PEFC performance. Hydrophobic treatment by PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) loading in the anode GDL is effective for performance enhancement. However, when the PTFE content becomes too high, the water transport properties are reduced, thereby lowering PEFC performance.
AB - The present study was carried out to find out the best combination of gas diffusion layers (GDLs) for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) operated under very low-humidity conditions at the cathode and high-humidity conditions at the anode using a test apparatus in which the clamp pressure on the cell could be accurately controlled. For cathode GDLs, it is important to maintain humidity and prevent dehydration of the MEA. A microporous layer (MPL) coating on the low-porosity carbon paper substrate is effective for enhancing PEFC performance. For anode GDLs, however, it is important to increase water transport from the humidified hydrogen gas to the MEA. An anode GDL with the MPL reduces PEFC performance. Hydrophobic treatment by PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) loading in the anode GDL is effective for performance enhancement. However, when the PTFE content becomes too high, the water transport properties are reduced, thereby lowering PEFC performance.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=63149107441&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=63149107441&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1149/1.2982000
DO - 10.1149/1.2982000
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:63149107441
SN - 9781566776486
T3 - ECS Transactions
SP - 1603
EP - 1613
BT - ECS Transactions - Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells 8
PB - Electrochemical Society Inc.
T2 - Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells 8, PEMFC - 214th ECS Meeting
Y2 - 12 October 2008 through 17 October 2008
ER -