Hwanyeong Oh

Study on the Durability Characteristics of the PEM Fuel Cells having Gas Diffusion Layer with Different Micro Porous Layer Penetration Thicknesses

3 JNTG Co., Ltd., 235-36 Mannyun-ro, Jeongnam-myeon, Hwasung-si, Gyeonggi-do 445-961, Republic of Korea Abstract >> Durability characteristics of Gas Diffusion Layer(GDL) is one of the important issues for accomplishing commercialization of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell(PEMFC). It is strongly related to the performances of PEMFC because one of the main functions of GDL is to work as a path of fuel, air and water. When the GDL does not work on their proposed functions due to the degradation of durability, mass transfer in PEMFC is disturbed and it might cause the flooding phenomenon. Thus, investigating the durability of GDL is important and understanding the GDL degradation process is needed. In this study, electrochemical degradation with carbon corrosion is introduced. The carbon corrosion experiment is carried out with GDLs which have different MPL penetration thicknesses. After the experiment, the amount of degradation of GDL is measured with various properties of GDL such as weight, thickness and performance of the PEMFC. The degraded GDL shows loss of their properties.