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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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    Cited by:

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    3. 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).
    4. Li, Linjun & Wang, Shixue & Yue, Like & Wang, Guozhuo, 2019. "Cold-start method for proton-exchange membrane fuel cells based on locally heating the cathode," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).
    5. 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.
    6. Niu, Zhiqiang & Bao, Zhiming & Wu, Jingtian & Wang, Yun & Jiao, Kui, 2018. "Two-phase flow in the mixed-wettability gas diffusion layer of proton exchange membrane fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 232(C), pages 443-450.
    7. 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.
    8. 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).
    9. Zhan, Zhigang & Yuan, Chong & Hu, Zhangrong & Wang, Hui & Sui, P.C. & Djilali, Ned & Pan, Mu, 2018. "Experimental study on different preheating methods for the cold-start of PEMFC stacks," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 1029-1040.

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