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The study optimizes the composition of the microporous layer (MPL) in a polymer exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) at varying humidities, finding that a specific MPL formulation with C:PTFE = 8:2 and XC-72 powder achieves the best performance.

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What they did

System
MFC

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Abstract

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is a promising energy supply device. Its improvement on output performance has always been a main subject. Microporous layer (MPL) is the water management center of PEMFC, which has an important influence on the mass transfer process and performance of PEMFC under high current density. In this paper, the performance of GDL based on Toray-H-060 with different carbon powder and C:PTFE of MPL were tested and optimized. SEM and static contact Angle was used to investigate Characterization of GDLs. The polarization curve was used to select the best performance, and EIS was used to explore the internal optimization mechanism. The output performance increases with humidity from 25%RH to 75%RH for all four samples. The MPL sample formulated with C: PTFE = 8:2 and XC-72 powder is the best under wide humidity region, and the best performance is achieved at 75%RH. The maximum power density reaches 0.949W/cm² at 1.8A/cm². At 100%RH, because of dense structure, the GDL of Toray substrate has poor output performance and low maximum power density of PEMFC, because of cathode flooding under high humidity conditions. The increasement of MPL hydrophobicity, achieved by change of carbon powder and PTFE content, contributes to the decrement of mass transfer resistance at high current density. The equilibrium between proton conductivity and water management is essential to ensure improved fuel cell performance. In summary, this study is useful for understanding influence of MPL contents on mass transfer performance in PEMFC and can guide the composition design of MPL.

Key findings

  • The output performance of the PEMFC increases with humidity from 25%RH to 75%RH for all samples.
  • The MPL sample with C:PTFE = 8:2 and XC-72 powder is the best under a wide humidity region.
  • The maximum power density reaches 0.949W/cm² at 1.8A/cm² at 75%RH.

Keywords

Proton exchange membrane fuel cellMicroporous materialRelative humidityPower densityContact angleCathode

Identifiers

DOI
10.4271/2023-01-7016
Journal
SAE Technical Paper Series
Year
2023