A graphene-based microporous layer for proton exchange membrane fuel cells: Characterization and performance comparison

RENEWABLE ENERGY

卷:126

Article

Ozden, Adnan^1,2  Shahgaldi, Samaneh²  Li, Xianguo^1,2  Hamdullahpur, Feridun¹ 

[1] Univ Waterloo, Dept Mech & Mechatron Engn, 200 Univ Ave West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada

[2] Univ Waterloo, Dept Mech & Mechatron Engn, Lab Fuel Cell & Green Energy RD&D 20 20, 200 Univ Ave West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada

关键词: Proton exchange membrane fuel cell;    Water management;    Gas diffusion layer;    Microporous layer;    Graphene-based microporous layer;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.renene.2018.03.065

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Water management is a critical issue for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, and the use of a microporous layer (MPL) substantially improves the PEM fuel cell performance, reliability and durability through improved water management. In this study, graphene, technically a yet-to-be-developed category of material, is investigated as a potential MPL material, due to its high electrical and thermal conductivity. MPLs made of graphene (G-MPL) have been fabricated and assessed through morphological, microstructural, physical, and electrochemical characterizations and performance testing in a single scaled-up cell. Comparison is also made with MPLs made of a conventional material, Vulcan (V-MPL). The results show that the G-MPL has a unique morphology composed of horizontally packaged graphene flakes that improves water management, in-plane electrical conductivity (up to 2 times), catalyst activity, and platinum (Pt) utilization (up to 10%). The cell with the G-MPL has a better performance than the cell with the V-MPL under both fully (100% RH) and partially (40% RH) humidified conditions, with the peak power densities of 0.98 W cm(-2) and 0.60 W cm(-2), respectively these peak power densities are about 7% and 43% higher than those obtained for the cell with the V-MPL at 100% and 40% RH, respectively. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

【 授权许可】

Free