Title: Effect of various micro-porous layer preparation methods on the performance of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell

Authors: Wei-Hung Chen; Tse-Hao Ko; Su-I Cheng; Chih-Jung Hung; Heng-Chia Liang; Jui-Hsiang Lin; Ching-Han Liu

Addresses: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Feng Chia University in Taiwan, No. 100 Wenhwa Rd., Seatwen, Taichung, 40724, Taiwan ' Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Feng Chia University in Taiwan, No. 100 Wenhwa Rd., Seatwen, Taichung, 40724, Taiwan ' Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Feng Chia University in Taiwan, No. 100 Wenhwa Rd., Seatwen, Taichung, 40724, Taiwan ' Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Feng Chia University in Taiwan, No. 100 Wenhwa Rd., Seatwen, Taichung, 40724, Taiwan ' Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Feng Chia University in Taiwan, No. 100 Wenhwa Rd., Seatwen, Taichung, 40724, Taiwan ' BCT Global Headquarters, No. 8-1, Gongyecyu 12th Rd., Situn Dist. Taichung City 407, Taiwan ' BCT Global Headquarters, No. 8-1, Gongyecyu 12th Rd., Situn Dist. Taichung City 407, Taiwan

Abstract: Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have been widely studied and discussed in the field of energy owing to their high energy efficiency and low waste emissions. A PEMFC uses hydrogen gas as a fuel, and works by causing hydrogen ions to link up with oxygen, producing liquid water as its sole by-product. The design of a PEMFC's micro-porous layer (MPL) can not only enhance cell performance, but also achieve better water management in a PEMFC system. In this paper, we examine the effects of spray and scrape MPL preparation methods on PEMFC performance. Our experimental results indicated that application of an MPL using the spray method yields better fuel cell performance. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images reveal that the spray method produces pores with smoother surfaces and achieves a more uniform pore distribution. When the carbon black composition was 3 wt%, the current density of cells with MPL produced using the spray method reached 1210 mAcm⁻² at a cell voltage of 0.5 V.

Keywords: PEMFCs; proton exchange membrane fuel cells; MPL; micro-porous layers; water management; spray; scrape; carbon black composition; nanotechnology; fuel cell performance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNT.2014.063804

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2014 Vol.11 No.9/10/11, pp.993 - 1005

Published online: 14 Jan 2015 *

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