Publication Date:
2011-02-26
Description:
Hot-pressing conditions for fabricating a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) were optimized. The key parameters were time, temperature, and pressure, varying from 1 to 5 min, 100 to 170 °C, and 21 to 93 kg cm –2 , respectively. The MEAs were fabricated with 50 cm 2 active electrode area and their performance was investigated using a fuel cell test station. The most suitable hot-pressing time for MEA was 3 min, the optimized pressure and temperature for MEA fabrication were 21 kg·cm –2 and 130 °C with 1.6 A and 0.56 V. At 100 °C, the current and voltage of the produced MEAs were low due to the trapped liquid formed inside the electrode. However, at more than 150 °C, the obstructed/distorted polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) will block the pores inside the gas diffusion layer (GDL) and cause a loss of performance of the fuel cell. Physical properties of the GDL were observed using scanning electron microsopy (SEM). The GDL exhibited a uniform pore distribution after application of hot-pressing. Hot-pressing conditions in terms of time, temperature, and pressure for fabricating a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) were optimized. The MEA performance was investigated using a fuel cell test station. Physical properties of the gas diffusion layer were observed using scanning electron microscopy, indicating a uniform pore distribution after hot-pressing.
Print ISSN:
0930-7516
Electronic ISSN:
1521-4125
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Process Engineering, Biotechnology, Nutrition Technology
Permalink