Effects of high-temperature operating conditions on the through-plane gas permeability of gas diffusion layers used in PEFCs

Raja Muhammad Aslam Raja Arif

doi:10.24191/jaeds.v1i1.3

Authors

Raja Muhammad Aslam Raja Arif School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Pasir Gudang Campus, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24191/jaeds.v1i1.3

Keywords:

PEFCs, gas diffusion layer, gas permeability, high-temperature operation

Abstract

In order to simulate the effects of high-temperature operating conditions on the through-plane gas permeability of gas diffusion layers (GDLs) used in polymer electrolyte fuel cells, uncoated and coated GDLs were heated at various temperatures (i.e. 200, 500 and 800 °C). The results show that the through-plane gas permeability of the uncoated GDLs generally increases after higher temperature treatment. However, the coated GDL displays a different trend: the through-plane gas permeability increases with increasing temperature treatment to 200 and 500 °C, but then decreases after heat treatment at 800 and 1000 °C. With the assistance of SEM images, the above results are discussed.

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