Self-Supporting Microporous Layer for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells

Abstract

The gas diffusion layer (GDL) used in a PEFC is thicker than the electrode catalyst layer and electrolyte membrane. Thinning down the GDL can reduce gas diffusion resistance and volumetric power density of PEFC stacks. In this study, MPL/GDL is prepared by printing microporous layers (MPLs) on carbon meshes of several tens of micrometers thick as substrates for thin-layer GDLs. Through various current-voltage and overvoltage measurements and microstructural analysis of the cells using these thin-layer MPL/GDLs, cell performance has been improved, equivalent to that of the state of the MPL/GDL.