Investigation of interfacial water transport at the gas diffusion media by neutron radiography

T. Kotaka, Y. Tabuchi, U. Pasaogullari, C. Y. Wang

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

For cost reduction of fuel cell, it is necessary to realize high current density operation, which requires a thorough understanding of mass transport. However, especially interfacial liquid water transport between carbon paper (CP), micro porous layer (MPL), and catalyst layer (CL) are not fully understood. Coupled cell performance evaluation, liquid water visualization by neutron radiography and numerical modeling were performed with three types of gas diffusion media (GDM): MPL free; CP with MPL; and CP free. It revealed that the presence of a gap at the CL-GDM interface has a significant effect on water accumulation and that the MPL could minimize this effect. At the same time, CP free case showed the best performance and the lowest liquid water content due to multiple impacts of interfacial liquid water transport both at CL-MPL and MPL-channel interfaces. These results confirm the importance of interfacial design between each component of fuel cell for further cost reduction.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationPolymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells 14
EditorsK. Shinohara, S. R. Narayanan, K. Swider-Lyons, A. Weber, C. Coutanceau, R. Mantz, H. A. Gasteiger, D. Jones, M. Edmundson, S. Mitsushima, V. Ramani, Y. Meas, T. Fuller, H. Uchida, F. N. Buchi, K. A. Perry, T. J. Schmidt, J. M. Fenton, P. Strasser
PublisherElectrochemical Society Inc.
Pages839-851
Number of pages13
Edition3
ISBN (Electronic)9781607685395
DOIs
StatePublished - 2014
Event14th Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Symposium, PEFC 2014 - 226th ECS Meeting - Cancun, Mexico
Duration: Oct 5 2014Oct 9 2014

Publication series

NameECS Transactions
Number3
Volume64
ISSN (Print)1938-5862
ISSN (Electronic)1938-6737

Other

Other14th Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Symposium, PEFC 2014 - 226th ECS Meeting
Country/TerritoryMexico
CityCancun
Period10/5/1410/9/14

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Engineering(all)

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