Influence of anisotropic bending stiffness of gas diffusion layers on the degradation behavior of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells under freezing conditions

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 36; no. 19; pp. 12452 - 12464
• Main Authors: Han, Kookil, Hong, Bo Ki, Kim, Sae Hoon, Ahn, Byung Ki, Lim, Tae Won
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alternative fuels. Production and utilization; Anisotropy; Applied sciences; Bending stiffness; Catalysts; Damage; Degradation; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Freeze thaw durability; Fuels; Gas diffusion; Gas diffusion layer; Hydrogen; Membranes; Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell; Stacks; Stiffness; Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell; Bending stiffness; Gas diffusion layer; Freeze thaw durability; Anisotropy; Gaseous diffusion; Anode; Polymer electrolytes; Cathode; Hydrogen; Surface layer; Durability; Flow field; Degradation; Membrane; Performance; Catalyst; Fuel cell
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2011.06.109

The effects of gas diffusion layer’s (GDL’s) anisotropic bending stiffness on the degradation behavior of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells have been investigated under freezing conditions. We have prepared GDL sheet samples such that the higher stiffness direction of GDL roll is aligned with the major flow field direction of a metallic bipolar plate at angles of 0° (parallel: ‘0° GDL’) and 90° (perpendicular: ‘90° GDL’). The I–V performances before and after 1000 temperature cycles between −10 and 1 °C of 90° GDL stack are higher than those of 0° GDL stack, and the voltages of 90° GDL stack are decreased slower than those of 0° GDL stack, indicating a higher durability of 90° GDL stack. Furthermore, the values and increasing rates of high-frequency resistance of 90° GDL stack are lower than those of 0° GDL stack. However, the H 2 and air pressure differences before and after 1000 temperature cycles of 90° GDL stack are very similar to those of 0° GDL stack. The surface of anode catalyst layer (CL) of membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) with catalyst-coated membrane type in 0° GDL stack appears to be more severely damaged than that in 90° GDL stack, especially under the channels, whereas the surfaces of cathode CLs of MEAs in both 0° and 90° GDL stacks are slightly damaged after 1000 temperature cycles. ► We examine freeze degradation of fuel cells with parallel or perpendicular GDL. ► Perpendicular GDL cell shows higher electrochemical performance than parallel one. ► Perpendicular GDL cell exhibits lower cell resistance. ► Anode of MEA in perpendicular GDL cell is less damaged than that in parallel one.