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Degradation of gas diffusion layers through repetitive freezing

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  • Lee, Yongtaek
  • Kim, Bosung
  • Kim, Yongchan
  • Li, Xianguo

Abstract

This work investigates the degradation of an individual gas diffusion layer (GDL) by repeated freezing cycles. The pore size distribution, gas permeability, surface structure, and contact angle on the surface of the GDL were measured in four different types of GDL: SGL paper with a microporous layer (MPL); SGL paper with 5wt% of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) loading; Toray paper without PTFE loading; and Toray paper with 20wt% of PTFE loading. After repeated freezing cycles, the porosity of the GDL without PTFE was reduced by 27.2% due to the volumetric expansion of the GDL. The peak of the log differential intrusion moved toward a smaller pore diameter slightly because of the repeated freezing process. The crack of the MPL increased in its width and length after repeated freezing cycles. The through-plane gas permeability of the GDL with the MPL doubled after repeated freezing cycles due to the growth of the crack in the MPL, but was very small for the GDLs with Toray paper. Besides, the GDLs with PTFE loading showed a relatively larger decrease in the contact angle on the surface than the GDL without PTFE loading due to the separation of PTFE from the carbon fiber during the repeated freezing process.

Suggested Citation

  • Lee, Yongtaek & Kim, Bosung & Kim, Yongchan & Li, Xianguo, 2011. "Degradation of gas diffusion layers through repetitive freezing," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(12), pages 5111-5119.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:88:y:2011:i:12:p:5111-5119
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2011.07.011
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Park, Jae Wan & Jiao, Kui & Li, Xianguo, 2010. "Numerical investigations on liquid water removal from the porous gas diffusion layer by reactant flow," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(7), pages 2180-2186, July.
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    4. Jiao, Kui & Park, Jaewan & Li, Xianguo, 2010. "Experimental investigations on liquid water removal from the gas diffusion layer by reactant flow in a PEM fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(9), pages 2770-2777, September.
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    Cited by:

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    3. Jung, Guo-Bin & Chuang, Kai-Yuan & Jao, Ting-Chu & Yeh, Chia-Chen & Lin, Chih-Yuan, 2012. "Study of high voltage applied to the membrane electrode assemblies of proton exchange membrane fuel cells as an accelerated degradation technique," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 81-86.
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    5. Yang, Yange & Zhou, Xiangyang & Li, Bing & Zhang, Cunman, 2021. "Failure of cathode gas diffusion layer in 1 kW fuel cell stack under new European driving cycle," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 303(C).
    6. Yang, Yange & Li, Xiang & Tang, Fumin & Ming, Pingwen & Li, Bing & Zhang, Cunman, 2022. "Power evolution of fuel cell stack driven by anode gas diffusion layer degradation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    7. Zhao, Jian & Shahgaldi, Samaneh & Alaefour, Ibrahim & Xu, Qian & Li, Xianguo, 2018. "Gas permeability of catalyzed electrodes in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 209(C), pages 203-210.
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    9. Chen, Chaogang & Gao, Yuan, 2024. "Using multi-threshold non-local means joint distribution method to analysis the spatial distribution patterns of binder and fibers in gas diffusion layers of fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 358(C).

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