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Eliminating micro-porous layer from gas diffusion electrode for use in high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Jun Jie ChongORCiD

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Abstract

In this work, we report a simple strategy to improve the performance of high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (HT-PEMFC) by eliminating the micro-porous layer (MPL) from its gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs). Due to the absence of liquid water and the general use of high amount of catalyst, the MPL in a HT-PEMFC system works limitedly. Contrarily, the elimination of the MPL leads to an interlaced micropore/macropore composited structure in the catalyst layer (CL), which favors gas transport and catalyst utilization, resulting in a greatly improved single cell performance. At the normal working voltage (0.6 V), the current density of the GDE eliminated MPL reaches 0.29 A cm⁻², and a maximum power density of 0.54 W cm⁻² at 0.36 V is obtained, which are comparable to the best results yet reported for the HT-PEMFCs with similar Pt loading and operated using air. Furthermore, the MPL-free GDE maintains an excellent durability during a preliminary 1400 h HT-PEMFC operation, owing to its structure advantages, indicating the feasibility of this electrode for practical applications.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Su H, Xu Q, Chong J, Li H, Sita C, Pasupathi S

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Journal of Power Sources

Year: 2017

Volume: 341

Pages: 302-308

Print publication date: 15/02/2017

Online publication date: 10/12/2016

Acceptance date: 06/12/2016

ISSN (print): 0378-7753

ISSN (electronic): 1873-2755

Publisher: Elsevier BV

URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2016.12.029

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2016.12.029

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