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

Saverio Latorrata, Paola Gallo Stampino, Cinzia Cristiani and Giovanni Dotelli
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Saverio Latorrata: Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”, Polytechnic University of Milan and INSTM RU-POLIMI, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy
Paola Gallo Stampino: Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”, Polytechnic University of Milan and INSTM RU-POLIMI, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy
Cinzia Cristiani: Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”, Polytechnic University of Milan and INSTM RU-POLIMI, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy
Giovanni Dotelli: Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”, Polytechnic University of Milan and INSTM RU-POLIMI, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy

Energies, 2017, vol. 10, issue 12, 1-17

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: durability; gas diffusion medium; GDL coating; electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; PEM fuel cell (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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