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Enhanced oxidation resistance and electrochemical performance of PEMFC gas diffusion layer through [EMIM][TFSI] ionic liquid coating

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  • Madheswaran, Dinesh Kumar
  • Thangamuthu, Mohanraj
  • Krishna, Ram
  • Gopi, Suresh
  • Geo Varuvel, Edwin

Abstract

The performance and durability of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) are critically hindered by the oxidation susceptibility of graphite felt gas diffusion layers (GDLs). This study addresses this challenge by employing a protective coating of 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium Bis(trifluoromethyl sulfonyl)imide ([EMIM][TFSI]) on the GDL through a dip-coating method, followed by thermal curing to ensure uniform distribution and strong adherence. Comprehensive characterization, including Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), confirmed the homogeneous coating, adhesion, and maintained porosity and gas diffusion properties of the GDL. The coated GDL exhibited a substantial increase in oxidation resistance, resulting in higher hydrophobicity with a contact angle of approximately 131°, compared to 96° for the uncoated GDL. Electrochemical analyses revealed that the [EMIM][TFSI]-coated GDL achieved a current density of 27 mA cm−2 at 0.925 V, surpassing the 19 mA cm−2 of the uncoated GDL at 0.91 V during cyclic voltammetry (CV) analysis. This study is limited by the short-term stability tests and the specific environmental conditions under which the experiments were conducted. Future work will focus on optimizing the coating process for varied environmental conditions and exploring the scalability of this technique for practical applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Madheswaran, Dinesh Kumar & Thangamuthu, Mohanraj & Krishna, Ram & Gopi, Suresh & Geo Varuvel, Edwin, 2024. "Enhanced oxidation resistance and electrochemical performance of PEMFC gas diffusion layer through [EMIM][TFSI] ionic liquid coating," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:235:y:2024:i:c:s0960148124013715
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2024.121303
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    References listed on IDEAS

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