Multiwall Carbon Nanotube-Based Microporous Layers for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells

作者：Lee J; Banerjee R; George M G; Muirhead D; Shrestha P; Liu H; Ge N; Chevalier S; Bazylak A^*

来源：Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 2017, 64(12): F1149-F1157.

DOI：10.1149/2.0861712jes

The presence of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) corresponded to a dispersion of carbon black particles in the microporous layer (MPL) of the polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell. The gas diffusion layer (GDL) with a MWCNT-based MPL exhibited larger pores and a higher porosity compared to a conventional GDL, and less MPL intrusion into the GDL substrate was observed with the MWCNTs-based MPL. The GDLs were evaluated in operando in a fuel cell that was customized for concurrent liquid water visualization (synchrotron X-ray radiography) and electrochemical characterization. The MWCNT-based fuel cell exhibited higher power densities and lower mass transport resistances compared to the fuel cell with the conventional GDL; however, a higher liquid water saturation was observed for the MWCNT-based GDL. Although the liquid water saturation in the MWCNT-based GDL was higher, its higher effective porosity led to superior performance compared to the conventional fuel cell. The use of the MWCNTs-based MPL resulted in improved oxygen transport in the fuel cell, particularly at high current densities.

• 出版日期2017