Journal
JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES
Volume 539, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
ELSEVIER
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2022.231623
Keywords
Synergistic effect; Microporous layer; Gas diffusion layer; Whisker-like carbon nanotubes; Ketjen Blacks
Funding
- Applied Fundamental Research Project of Shanxi Province [201901D211587]
- Joint Fund of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Shanxi Province [U1810116]
- Major Science and Technology Projects of Shanxi Province [20181101020]
- Independent Innovation Fund Project of Shanxi Institute of Coal Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences-Basic Research Project [SCJC-HN-2022-15]
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In this work, a new type of MPL with optimized pore structures was introduced by incorporating WCNTs and KBs onto a macroporous substrate to improve water management performance of PEMFC. The resulting MPL with a superhydrophobic surface showed the highest power density at high humidity conditions.
Microporous layer (MPL) is commonly applied to gas diffusion layer to improve water management performance of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). In this work, we introduce a new type of MPL comprising whisker-like carbon nanotubes (WCNTs) and Ketjen Blacks (KBs) onto the macroporous substrate to optimize the pore structures. Scanning electron microscopy images show that KBs populate overlapping networks formed by WCNTs, leading to an increased proportion of mesopores (about 34.87%) of crack-free MPL. This optimal structure of MPL with a superhydrophobic surface ensures the maximum power density up to 2.046 W cm(-2) at 100% relative humidity. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy verifies that the mass transfer resistance is significantly lower, which means rapid drain of excess water and supply of reactant gas, and it is further confirmed by theoretical analysis of pore characteristics. A mechanism of gas-water transport balance promoted by the network structures of MPL constructed by WCNTs/KBs is proposed, which allows enhancing PEMFC performance at high humidity conditions.
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