Surface modification of gas diffusion layers by inorganic nanomaterials for performance enhancement of proton exchange membrane fuel cells at low RH conditions

L. Cindrella; Arunachala Mada Kannan; R. Ahmad; M. Thommes

doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2009.05.086

Surface modification of gas diffusion layers by inorganic nanomaterials for performance enhancement of proton exchange membrane fuel cells at low RH conditions

L. Cindrella, Arunachala Mada Kannan, R. Ahmad, M. Thommes

Advanced Technology Innovation Center (ATIC)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

Prompted by our earlier study that fumed silica on gas diffusion layer (GDL) favored a performance improvement of the single fuel cell at lower RH conditions, the present study has been carried out with inorganic oxides in the nanoscale such as TiO₂, Al₂O₃, commercially available mixed oxides, hydrophilic silica and aerosil silica. The structure of each of the oxide coating on the GDL surface has resulted in refinement with graded pore dimension as seen from the Hg porosimetry data. The fuel cell evaluation at various RH conditions (50-100%) revealed that the performance of all the inorganic oxides loaded GDL is very high compared to that of pristine GDL. The results confirm our earlier observation that inorganic oxides on GDL bring about structural refinement favorable for the transport of gases, and their water retaining capacity enable a high performance of the fuel cell even at low RH conditions.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	6377-6383
Number of pages	7
Journal	International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Volume	34
Issue number	15
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2009.05.086
State	Published - Aug 2009

Keywords

Contact angle
GDL
Membrane electrode assembly
Nanomaterials
PEM fuel cells
Porosity
Surface morphology

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Fuel Technology
Condensed Matter Physics
Energy Engineering and Power Technology

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10.1016/j.ijhydene.2009.05.086

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Surface modification of gas diffusion layers by inorganic nanomaterials for performance enhancement of proton exchange membrane fuel cells at low RH conditions. / Cindrella, L.; Mada Kannan, Arunachala; Ahmad, R. et al.
In: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Vol. 34, No. 15, 08.2009, p. 6377-6383.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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title = "Surface modification of gas diffusion layers by inorganic nanomaterials for performance enhancement of proton exchange membrane fuel cells at low RH conditions",

abstract = "Prompted by our earlier study that fumed silica on gas diffusion layer (GDL) favored a performance improvement of the single fuel cell at lower RH conditions, the present study has been carried out with inorganic oxides in the nanoscale such as TiO2, Al2O3, commercially available mixed oxides, hydrophilic silica and aerosil silica. The structure of each of the oxide coating on the GDL surface has resulted in refinement with graded pore dimension as seen from the Hg porosimetry data. The fuel cell evaluation at various RH conditions (50-100%) revealed that the performance of all the inorganic oxides loaded GDL is very high compared to that of pristine GDL. The results confirm our earlier observation that inorganic oxides on GDL bring about structural refinement favorable for the transport of gases, and their water retaining capacity enable a high performance of the fuel cell even at low RH conditions.",

keywords = "Contact angle, GDL, Membrane electrode assembly, Nanomaterials, PEM fuel cells, Porosity, Surface morphology",

author = "L. Cindrella and {Mada Kannan}, Arunachala and R. Ahmad and M. Thommes",

note = "Funding Information: Cindrella Louis and Arunachala Nadar Kannan acknowledge the financial support from the Arizona State University through Global Engagement Seed Grant for inter-institutional research collaboration. Copyright: Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",

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AU - Cindrella, L.

AU - Mada Kannan, Arunachala

AU - Ahmad, R.

AU - Thommes, M.

N1 - Funding Information: Cindrella Louis and Arunachala Nadar Kannan acknowledge the financial support from the Arizona State University through Global Engagement Seed Grant for inter-institutional research collaboration. Copyright: Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

PY - 2009/8

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N2 - Prompted by our earlier study that fumed silica on gas diffusion layer (GDL) favored a performance improvement of the single fuel cell at lower RH conditions, the present study has been carried out with inorganic oxides in the nanoscale such as TiO2, Al2O3, commercially available mixed oxides, hydrophilic silica and aerosil silica. The structure of each of the oxide coating on the GDL surface has resulted in refinement with graded pore dimension as seen from the Hg porosimetry data. The fuel cell evaluation at various RH conditions (50-100%) revealed that the performance of all the inorganic oxides loaded GDL is very high compared to that of pristine GDL. The results confirm our earlier observation that inorganic oxides on GDL bring about structural refinement favorable for the transport of gases, and their water retaining capacity enable a high performance of the fuel cell even at low RH conditions.

AB - Prompted by our earlier study that fumed silica on gas diffusion layer (GDL) favored a performance improvement of the single fuel cell at lower RH conditions, the present study has been carried out with inorganic oxides in the nanoscale such as TiO2, Al2O3, commercially available mixed oxides, hydrophilic silica and aerosil silica. The structure of each of the oxide coating on the GDL surface has resulted in refinement with graded pore dimension as seen from the Hg porosimetry data. The fuel cell evaluation at various RH conditions (50-100%) revealed that the performance of all the inorganic oxides loaded GDL is very high compared to that of pristine GDL. The results confirm our earlier observation that inorganic oxides on GDL bring about structural refinement favorable for the transport of gases, and their water retaining capacity enable a high performance of the fuel cell even at low RH conditions.

KW - Contact angle

KW - GDL

KW - Membrane electrode assembly

KW - Nanomaterials

KW - PEM fuel cells

KW - Porosity

KW - Surface morphology

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Surface modification of gas diffusion layers by inorganic nanomaterials for performance enhancement of proton exchange membrane fuel cells at low RH conditions

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Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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