In proton-exchange-membrane fuel cells, flooding of the cathode gas-diffusion layer (GDL) hinders the gaseous reactant transport and thereby limits cell performance. The understanding of the effective diffusivity of the reactants through the GDL is essential for performance optimization and material design. In this paper, the effective diffusivities of unsaturated and partially-saturated GDLs are experimentally examined using an ex-situ electrochemical limiting-current method for various, uncompressed GDLs including different PTFE loadings. For unsaturated (including PTFE loadings) and partially-saturated (no PTFE) GDLs, the experimental results follow a power law with respect to porosity and saturation, respectively. PTFE treatment favorably changes the liquid distribution for improved gas-transport pathways, and a new correlation is proposed using a cumulative log-normal distribution function; however, the impact of PTFE on the overall effective diffusivity depends on the specific GDL structure. This work provides insights for fuel-cell models and transport phenomena, which can lead to the optimal GDL material design and cell operation.
BT - Journal of the Electrochemical Society DA - 01/2012 DO - 10.1149/2.024211jes IS - 11 N2 -In proton-exchange-membrane fuel cells, flooding of the cathode gas-diffusion layer (GDL) hinders the gaseous reactant transport and thereby limits cell performance. The understanding of the effective diffusivity of the reactants through the GDL is essential for performance optimization and material design. In this paper, the effective diffusivities of unsaturated and partially-saturated GDLs are experimentally examined using an ex-situ electrochemical limiting-current method for various, uncompressed GDLs including different PTFE loadings. For unsaturated (including PTFE loadings) and partially-saturated (no PTFE) GDLs, the experimental results follow a power law with respect to porosity and saturation, respectively. PTFE treatment favorably changes the liquid distribution for improved gas-transport pathways, and a new correlation is proposed using a cumulative log-normal distribution function; however, the impact of PTFE on the overall effective diffusivity depends on the specific GDL structure. This work provides insights for fuel-cell models and transport phenomena, which can lead to the optimal GDL material design and cell operation.
PY - 2012 SP - F683 EP - F692 ST - Journal of the Electrochemical Society T2 - Journal of the Electrochemical Society TI - Effective-Diffusivity Measurement of Partially-Saturated Fuel-Cell Gas-Diffusion Layers VL - 159 SN - 0013-4651 ER -