Modification of gas diffusion layers properties to improve water management
Abstract In this paper we report an approach to improve water management of commercial GDLs by introducing hydrophobicity patterns. Specifically, line and grid patterns have been created in the MPL side by laser radiation. For an in-depth investigation of these modified GDLs the current density dist...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2017-09-01
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| Series: | Materials for Renewable and Sustainable Energy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40243-017-0104-6 |
| _version_ | 1811219376301408256 |
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| author | Martin Tomas Indro S. Biswas Pawel Gazdzicki Lucie Kullova Mathias Schulze |
| author_facet | Martin Tomas Indro S. Biswas Pawel Gazdzicki Lucie Kullova Mathias Schulze |
| author_sort | Martin Tomas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract In this paper we report an approach to improve water management of commercial GDLs by introducing hydrophobicity patterns. Specifically, line and grid patterns have been created in the MPL side by laser radiation. For an in-depth investigation of these modified GDLs the current density distribution was monitored during fuel cell operation. Additionally, the physical properties of these materials were investigated by a number of ex situ methods such as Fourier transform infrared microscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and water vapor sorption. Furthermore, a comparison of the physical properties of the patterned GDLs with chemically modified GDLs (treated in H2SO4 and H2O2) is provided. Our results show a clearly improved homogeneity of current density distribution of the patterned GDLs compared to untreated GDLs. This observation is likely due to a reduced local hydrophobicity which facilitates water diffusion along the flow field of the fuel cell. However, performance of the fuel cell was not affected by the MPL irradiation. Graphical Abstract |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T07:26:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-754a74bee8d543d79ebb94b41bfedbd4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2194-1459 2194-1467 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T07:26:09Z |
| publishDate | 2017-09-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Materials for Renewable and Sustainable Energy |
| spelling | doaj.art-754a74bee8d543d79ebb94b41bfedbd42022-12-22T03:42:12ZengSpringerOpenMaterials for Renewable and Sustainable Energy2194-14592194-14672017-09-01641910.1007/s40243-017-0104-6Modification of gas diffusion layers properties to improve water managementMartin Tomas0Indro S. Biswas1Pawel Gazdzicki2Lucie Kullova3Mathias Schulze4University of West BohemiaGerman Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Engineering ThermodynamicsGerman Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Engineering ThermodynamicsUniversity of West BohemiaGerman Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Engineering ThermodynamicsAbstract In this paper we report an approach to improve water management of commercial GDLs by introducing hydrophobicity patterns. Specifically, line and grid patterns have been created in the MPL side by laser radiation. For an in-depth investigation of these modified GDLs the current density distribution was monitored during fuel cell operation. Additionally, the physical properties of these materials were investigated by a number of ex situ methods such as Fourier transform infrared microscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and water vapor sorption. Furthermore, a comparison of the physical properties of the patterned GDLs with chemically modified GDLs (treated in H2SO4 and H2O2) is provided. Our results show a clearly improved homogeneity of current density distribution of the patterned GDLs compared to untreated GDLs. This observation is likely due to a reduced local hydrophobicity which facilitates water diffusion along the flow field of the fuel cell. However, performance of the fuel cell was not affected by the MPL irradiation. Graphical Abstracthttp://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40243-017-0104-6Fuel cellGDLWater managementPerformancePTFELaser patterning |
| spellingShingle | Martin Tomas Indro S. Biswas Pawel Gazdzicki Lucie Kullova Mathias Schulze Modification of gas diffusion layers properties to improve water management Materials for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Fuel cell GDL Water management Performance PTFE Laser patterning |
| title | Modification of gas diffusion layers properties to improve water management |
| title_full | Modification of gas diffusion layers properties to improve water management |
| title_fullStr | Modification of gas diffusion layers properties to improve water management |
| title_full_unstemmed | Modification of gas diffusion layers properties to improve water management |
| title_short | Modification of gas diffusion layers properties to improve water management |
| title_sort | modification of gas diffusion layers properties to improve water management |
| topic | Fuel cell GDL Water management Performance PTFE Laser patterning |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40243-017-0104-6 |
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