Effect of Microporous Layer Ink Homogenisation on the Through-Plane Gas Permeability of PEFC Porous Media
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Materials
2.2. Methods
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Through-Plane Gas Permeability of GDLs
3.2. Through-Plane Gas Permeability of Gas Diffusion Media
3.2.1. Effect of Ink Homogenisation Techniques
3.2.2. Impact of Homogenisation Time
4. Conclusions
- Bath sonication produced MPLs with a smoother surface and less cracks when compared with the surface morphology produced using magnetic stirring for a high-surface-area carbon powder (Ketjenblack EC-300J). There were no discernible differences in the surface morphology between the two homogenisation techniques for a low-surface-area carbon powder (Vulcan XC-72R);
- Magnetic stirring resulted in an increase in through-plane permeability by a factor of 1.5 to 2 for MPLs composed of Vulcan XC-72R when coated on SGL 10DA and Toray TGP-H-60, respectively. The resulting increase in through-plane gas permeability was attributed to larger aggregates of carbon and PTFE being formed due to the technique used. The homogenisation technique also influenced the thickness of the MPL, where magnetic stirring resulted in thicker structures independent of the GDL substrate;
- The impact of magnetic stirring is more apparent on the through-plane gas permeability for low-surface-area carbon powder (Vulcan XC-72R) and on the surface morphology of high-surface-area carbon powder (Ketjenblack EC-300J);
- Carbon felt-fibre paper (SGL 10DA) GDM showed predictable reductions in through-plane gas permeability for the two carbon powders when compared to previous investigations for SGL 10CA and SGL 10EA, despite a decrease in bath sonication time of one hour. This was attributed to the higher porosity of the carbon felt-fibre paper GDL;
- MPL ink sonication time of three hours resulted in a percentage reduction in through-plane gas permeability from the GDL substrate permeability by 72% for high-surface-area carbon powder (Ketjenblack EC-300J) compared to 47% for a two-hour sonication time; there was a negligible difference in the percentage reduction in through-plane gas permeability between the two bath sonication times for MPLs composed of low-surface-area carbon powder (Vulcan XC-72R).
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Properties | Gas Diffusion Layer | |
---|---|---|
Toray TGP-H-60 | SGL 10DA | |
Thickness (μm) | 190 | 400 |
Areal weight (g m−2) | - | 100 |
Porosity (%) | 78 | 84 a |
PTFE loading (%) | 5 | 20 |
Properties | Carbon Powders | |
Ketjenblack EC-300J | Vulcan XC-72R | |
Pore volume (mL/100 g) | 310–345 | 178 |
Apparent bulk density (kg m−3) | 125–145 | 20–380 |
Surface area (m−2 g−1) | 950 | 254 |
Particle diameter (nm) | 30 | 30 |
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Neehall, N.D.; Ismail, M.S.; Hughes, K.J.; Pourkashanian, M. Effect of Microporous Layer Ink Homogenisation on the Through-Plane Gas Permeability of PEFC Porous Media. Energies 2023, 16, 5944. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16165944
Neehall ND, Ismail MS, Hughes KJ, Pourkashanian M. Effect of Microporous Layer Ink Homogenisation on the Through-Plane Gas Permeability of PEFC Porous Media. Energies. 2023; 16(16):5944. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16165944
Chicago/Turabian StyleNeehall, Narvin D., Mohammed S. Ismail, Kevin J. Hughes, and Mohamed Pourkashanian. 2023. "Effect of Microporous Layer Ink Homogenisation on the Through-Plane Gas Permeability of PEFC Porous Media" Energies 16, no. 16: 5944. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16165944