Innovative Gas Diffusion Media for PEM Fuel Cells Based on a Fluorinated Polyurethane as Hydrophobic Agent

The present work focuses on the use of an alternative polymer (Fluorolink® P56, a commercially available, anionic, segmented polyfluorourethane with high molecular weight) to be used as hydrophobic agent in GDMs production for PEMFCs. Prepared samples were physically evaluated by static contact angl...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: S. Latorrata, R. Balzarotti, P. Gallo Stampino, C. Cristiani, G. Dotelli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AIDIC Servizi S.r.l. 2014-10-01
Series:Chemical Engineering Transactions
Online Access:https://www.cetjournal.it/index.php/cet/article/view/5228
_version_ 1819297002414931968
author S. Latorrata
R. Balzarotti
P. Gallo Stampino
C. Cristiani
G. Dotelli
author_facet S. Latorrata
R. Balzarotti
P. Gallo Stampino
C. Cristiani
G. Dotelli
author_sort S. Latorrata
collection DOAJ
description The present work focuses on the use of an alternative polymer (Fluorolink® P56, a commercially available, anionic, segmented polyfluorourethane with high molecular weight) to be used as hydrophobic agent in GDMs production for PEMFCs. Prepared samples were physically evaluated by static contact angle, SEM analysis, porosimetry and finally tested in a single lab-scale fuel cell in order to assess electrochemical performances. In a typical experiment, carbon black (CB), Fluorolink P56 (two different concentrations) and isopropyl alcohol were mixed at 8000 rpm by using an Ultra Turrax homogeneizator. Inks produced were blade coated on hydrophobized commercial GDLs (SAATI Group). Then the samples were treated for 30 minutes at 150 °C in order to remove the wetting medium and to make the polymer fibrous. The layers based on Fluorolink P56 showed good surface uniformity and a superhydrophobic behavior (i.e. mean contact angle higher than 150°). Electrochemical tests, performed at 60 °C and 80 °C and low (60%) and high (100%) relative humidities, demonstrated that innovative GDMs are able to guarantee higher power density values in certain operating conditions and very low overall ohmic resistances, even though some critical issues still remain in diffusion limitations at high current densities, when more water is generated.
first_indexed 2024-12-24T05:07:05Z
format Article
id doaj.art-0406dd9bee8e46e5b60f72cf67b3bb1e
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2283-9216
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-24T05:07:05Z
publishDate 2014-10-01
publisher AIDIC Servizi S.r.l.
record_format Article
series Chemical Engineering Transactions
spelling doaj.art-0406dd9bee8e46e5b60f72cf67b3bb1e2022-12-21T17:13:48ZengAIDIC Servizi S.r.l.Chemical Engineering Transactions2283-92162014-10-014110.3303/CET1441046Innovative Gas Diffusion Media for PEM Fuel Cells Based on a Fluorinated Polyurethane as Hydrophobic AgentS. LatorrataR. BalzarottiP. Gallo StampinoC. CristianiG. DotelliThe present work focuses on the use of an alternative polymer (Fluorolink® P56, a commercially available, anionic, segmented polyfluorourethane with high molecular weight) to be used as hydrophobic agent in GDMs production for PEMFCs. Prepared samples were physically evaluated by static contact angle, SEM analysis, porosimetry and finally tested in a single lab-scale fuel cell in order to assess electrochemical performances. In a typical experiment, carbon black (CB), Fluorolink P56 (two different concentrations) and isopropyl alcohol were mixed at 8000 rpm by using an Ultra Turrax homogeneizator. Inks produced were blade coated on hydrophobized commercial GDLs (SAATI Group). Then the samples were treated for 30 minutes at 150 °C in order to remove the wetting medium and to make the polymer fibrous. The layers based on Fluorolink P56 showed good surface uniformity and a superhydrophobic behavior (i.e. mean contact angle higher than 150°). Electrochemical tests, performed at 60 °C and 80 °C and low (60%) and high (100%) relative humidities, demonstrated that innovative GDMs are able to guarantee higher power density values in certain operating conditions and very low overall ohmic resistances, even though some critical issues still remain in diffusion limitations at high current densities, when more water is generated.https://www.cetjournal.it/index.php/cet/article/view/5228
spellingShingle S. Latorrata
R. Balzarotti
P. Gallo Stampino
C. Cristiani
G. Dotelli
Innovative Gas Diffusion Media for PEM Fuel Cells Based on a Fluorinated Polyurethane as Hydrophobic Agent
Chemical Engineering Transactions
title Innovative Gas Diffusion Media for PEM Fuel Cells Based on a Fluorinated Polyurethane as Hydrophobic Agent
title_full Innovative Gas Diffusion Media for PEM Fuel Cells Based on a Fluorinated Polyurethane as Hydrophobic Agent
title_fullStr Innovative Gas Diffusion Media for PEM Fuel Cells Based on a Fluorinated Polyurethane as Hydrophobic Agent
title_full_unstemmed Innovative Gas Diffusion Media for PEM Fuel Cells Based on a Fluorinated Polyurethane as Hydrophobic Agent
title_short Innovative Gas Diffusion Media for PEM Fuel Cells Based on a Fluorinated Polyurethane as Hydrophobic Agent
title_sort innovative gas diffusion media for pem fuel cells based on a fluorinated polyurethane as hydrophobic agent
url https://www.cetjournal.it/index.php/cet/article/view/5228
work_keys_str_mv AT slatorrata innovativegasdiffusionmediaforpemfuelcellsbasedonafluorinatedpolyurethaneashydrophobicagent
AT rbalzarotti innovativegasdiffusionmediaforpemfuelcellsbasedonafluorinatedpolyurethaneashydrophobicagent
AT pgallostampino innovativegasdiffusionmediaforpemfuelcellsbasedonafluorinatedpolyurethaneashydrophobicagent
AT ccristiani innovativegasdiffusionmediaforpemfuelcellsbasedonafluorinatedpolyurethaneashydrophobicagent
AT gdotelli innovativegasdiffusionmediaforpemfuelcellsbasedonafluorinatedpolyurethaneashydrophobicagent