Abstract
The Gas Diffusion Layer (GDL) plays an important role in the performance of a fuel cell, but it also strongly controls the durability of the membrane-electrode-assembly (MEA). Mechanical damages like fiber intrusion at high contact pressure can lead to hydrogen crossover and electrical short circuit formation. In this paper a non-woven GDL is analyzed by electrochemical methods in a fuel cell test station under contact pressure cycling between 0.2 and 1.5 MPa. These results are compared ex-situ with the microscopic structural changes in the material investigated by micro computed tomography in combination with a specially designed compression tool. The optical measurements allow the identification of GDL defects. A clear correlation between the loss of internal resistance and hydrogen crossover current and the emerging of small cracks and fiber intrusions could be established.
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