Effect of liquid water distribution in gas diffusion media with and without microporous layer on PEM fuel cell performance

To understand the effect of liquid water accumulation on the performance of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, in situ visualization of liquid water accumulation was performed in fuel cells having gas diffusion media (GDM) with and without microporous layer (MPL) using soft X-ray radiography...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inElectrochemistry communications Vol. 34; pp. 239 - 241
Main Authors Deevanhxay, Phengxay, Sasabe, Takashi, Tsushima, Shohji, Hirai, Shuichiro
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Lausanne Elsevier B.V 01.09.2013
Amsterdam Elsevier
New York, NY
Subjects
Applied sciences
Energy
Energy. Thermal use of fuels
Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc
Exact sciences and technology
Fuel cells
In-situ diagnostic
Interface
Liquid water distribution
Microporous layer
PEM fuel cell
Liquid water distribution
Microporous layer
Interface
In-situ diagnostic
PEM fuel cell
Soft X ray
In situ
X ray radiography
Water distribution
Diffusion layer
Catalyst layer
Porous material
Microporosity
Diagnosis
Performance
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells
Physicochemical properties
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:To understand the effect of liquid water accumulation on the performance of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, in situ visualization of liquid water accumulation was performed in fuel cells having gas diffusion media (GDM) with and without microporous layer (MPL) using soft X-ray radiography. The liquid water accumulation at the interface of a catalyst layer (CL) and GDM without an MPL has a critical effect on the PEM fuel cell performance. MPL reduced water accumulation at the CL/GDM interface, resulting in a better fuel cell performance than that of the cell without MPL. [Display omitted] •We performed in situ visualization of liquid water accumulation in PEM fuel cells.•We used soft X-ray radiography to observe liquid water.•Effect of liquid water accumulation on fuel cell performance was observed.•Water at catalyst layer/gas diffusion media interface drastically decreases voltage.•Microporous layer reduces water at catalyst layer/gas diffusion media interface.
ISSN:1388-2481
1873-1902
DOI:10.1016/j.elecom.2013.07.001