eprintid: 1363372
rev_number: 35
eprint_status: archive
userid: 608
dir: disk0/01/36/33/72
datestamp: 2012-09-21 18:36:14
lastmod: 2021-09-19 23:49:41
status_changed: 2012-09-21 18:36:14
type: article
metadata_visibility: show
item_issues_count: 0
creators_name: El-kharouf, A
creators_name: Mason, TJ
creators_name: Brett, DJL
creators_name: Pollet, BG
title: Ex-situ characterisation of gas diffusion layers for proton exchange membrane fuel cells
ispublished: pub
divisions: UCL
divisions: B04
divisions: C05
divisions: F43
keywords: PEM fuel cell, GDL, MPL, Ex-situ characterization
note: This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
abstract: This paper presents the first part of a complete ex-situ characterisation of a wide range of commercial Gas Diffusion Layers (GDLs) used in low temperature and high temperature Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells. Physical and electrical characteristics of the GDLs are reported. The results show that the substrate structure has a significant effect on the mechanical and electrical properties of the GDL. Moreover, the Micro Porous Layer (MPL) structure determines the roughness of the surface, and affects the permeability and porosity of the GDL. It was found that the substrate treatment with PTFE affects the GDL characteristics; PTFE loading increases the GDLs hydrophobicity and permeability, however, decreases its overall porosity and resistivity. Adding a MPL to the substrate, results in a decrease in porosity and permeability and an increase in resistivity. The contact resistance of the GDL and the bipolar plate increases when the GDL thickness and PTFE loading are increased. This technical paper shows a close relationship between GDL materials and their physical characteristics and highlights the importance of optimising GDLs for fuel cell applications.
date: 2012-11-15
official_url: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2012.06.099
vfaculties: VENG
oa_status: green
language: eng
primo: open
primo_central: open_green
verified: verified_manual
elements_source: WoS-Lite
elements_id: 443396
doi: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2012.06.099
lyricists_name: Brett, Daniel
lyricists_name: Mason, Thomas
lyricists_id: DBRET49
lyricists_id: TMASO26
full_text_status: public
publication: Journal of Power Sources
volume: 218
pagerange: 393 - 404
issn: 0378-7753
citation:        El-kharouf, A;    Mason, TJ;    Brett, DJL;    Pollet, BG;      (2012)    Ex-situ characterisation of gas diffusion layers for proton exchange membrane fuel cells.                   Journal of Power Sources , 218    393 - 404.    10.1016/j.jpowsour.2012.06.099 <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2012.06.099>.       Green open access   
 
document_url: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1363372/1/1363372.pdf