Multiscale Tomography-Based Analysis of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells: Towards a Fully Resolved Gas Diffusion Electrode Reconstruction

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Klingele ◽  
Riko Moroni ◽  
Severin Vierrath ◽  
Simon Thiele
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Catalyst Layer ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell Electrodes ◽  
Fuel Cell Electrode ◽  
Cell Electrode ◽  
And Control

The microstructure of a fuel cell electrode largely determines the performance of the whole fuel cell system. In this regard, tomographic imaging is a valuable tool for the understanding and control of the electrode morphology. The distribution of pore- and feature-sizes within fuel cell electrodes covers several orders of magnitude, ranging from millimeters in the gas diffusion layer (GDL) down to few nanometers in the catalyst layer. This obligates the application of various tomographic methods for imaging every aspect of a fuel cell. This perspective evaluates the capabilities, limits, and challenges of each of these methods. Further, it highlights and suggests efforts toward the integration of multiple tomographic methods into single multiscale datasets, a venture which aims at large-scale, and morphologically fully resolved fuel cell reconstructions.

Development of a PEM Fuel Cell Electrode Coating Testbed

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Casey J. Hoffman ◽  
Daniel F. Walczyk
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Platinum Catalyst ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Quality Measurement ◽  
Catalyst Layer ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Electrode Coating

Two of the largest barriers to PEMFC commercialization are the materials costs for individual components, especially platinum catalyst, and the fact that few large-scale manufacturing capabilities currently exist. This paper focuses on the development of a testbed which will be used for evaluating coating technologies for use in the manufacture of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell electrodes. More specifically, the focus is on diffusion electrode architecture, in which the catalyst layer is applied to a gas diffusion layer (GDL) rather than on the membrane. These electrodes are used for both low- and high-temperature PEM fuel cells. A flexible web coating testbed has been designed and built to allow for testing of different gas diffusion electrode (GDE) and GDL deposition methods. This testbed, which is approximately two meters in length, includes a variety of both coating and drying capabilities as well as additional space for quality measurement and control system testing. Testbed capabilities and planned experimentation is discussed in detail. In the future, various non-contact deposition methods for the microlayer and catalyst inks will be investigated (e.g., direct spray, ultrasonic spray) to determine those that will provide higher throughput and repeatability through increased process control capability, while improving electrode performance.

Effect of Carbon Fiber Felt Pretreatment on Properties of Carbon Fiber Paper

2011 ◽  
Vol 194-196 ◽  
pp. 1620-1623 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xue Jun Zhang ◽  
Hao Pei ◽  
Zeng Min Shen
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Carbon Fiber ◽  
Diffusion Layer ◽  
Gas Permeability ◽  
Gas Diffusion Layer ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Carbon Fiber Felt ◽  
Fuel Cell Electrode ◽  
Carbon Fiber Paper ◽  
Cell Electrode

Gas diffusion layer is a very important component in fuel cell, and carbon fiber paper is widely used as substrate of gas diffusion layer. This paper has developed one way to produce carbon fiber paper from carbon fiber felt with or without pretreatment. The properties and microstructure of carbon fiber paper were also stdied. The results show that the pretreatment of carbon fiber felt is helpful to prepare carbon fiber paper with good properties. The content of carbon derived from resin during pretreatment has effects on density, thickness, porosity, gas permeability, porosity and tensile streagth of carbon fiber paper. Carbon fiber paper made from carbon fiber felt with pretreatment has better interface adhension than that of carbon fiber paper made from carbon fiber felt without pretreatment. Carbon fiber paper was produced with thickness of 0.28mm, density of 0.43g/cm3, porosity of 77%, gas permeability of 2500 mL•mm/(cm2•hr•mmAq), specific resistance of 0.017Ω•cm and tensile strength of 18MPa, which is a promising materials for fuel cell electrode.

scholarly journals Probing of complex carbon nanofiber paper as gas-diffusion electrode for high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell

RSC Advances ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 257-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Igor I. Ponomarev ◽  
Kirill M. Skupov ◽  
Alexander V. Naumkin ◽  
Victoria G. Basu ◽  
Olga M. Zhigalina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Carbon Nanofiber ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Fuel Cell Electrode ◽  
Commercial Carbon ◽  
Complex Carbon ◽  
Cell Electrode ◽  
Composite Carbon

Complex composite carbon nanofiber fuel cell electrode shows advantages compared to non-composite and less durable commercial carbon black ones.

Effect of SiO2 additives on the PEM fuel cell electrode performance

2011 ◽  
Vol 36 (22) ◽  
pp. 14815-14822 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Senthil Velan ◽  
G. Velayutham ◽  
Neha Hebalkar ◽  
K.S. Dhathathreyan
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Electrode Performance ◽  
Fuel Cell Electrode ◽  
Cell Electrode

Predicting Liquid Water Saturation Through Differently Structured Cathode Gas Diffusion Media of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Akhtar ◽  
P. J. A. M. Kerkhof
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Liquid Water ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Water Saturation ◽  
Catalyst Layer ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Diffusion Media ◽  
Exchange Membrane

The role of gas diffusion media with differently structured properties have been examined with emphasis on the liquid water saturation within the cathode of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The cathode electrode consists of a gas diffusion layer (GDL), a micro-porous layer and a catalyst layer (CL). The liquid water saturation profiles have been calculated for varying structural and physical properties, i.e., porosity, permeability, thickness and contact angle for each of these layers. It has been observed that each layer has its own role in determining the liquid water saturation within the CL. Among all the layers, the GDL is the most influential layer that governs the transport phenomena within the PEMFC cathode. Besides, the thickness of the CL also affects the liquid water saturation and it should be carefully controlled.

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