PTFE mapping in gas diffusion media for PEMFCs using fluorescence microscopy
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
McCarthy, N
Chen, R
Offer, GJ
Thring, R
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Differentiating between the various polytetrafluoroethylene based structures inside polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells with a degree of certainty is necessary to optimize manufacturing processes and to investigate possible degradation mechanisms. We have developed a novel method using fluorescence microscopy for distinguishing the origin and location of PTFE and/or Nafion® in Membrane Electrode assemblies and the gas diffusion media from different sources and stages of processing. Fluorescent material was successfully diffused into the PTFE based structures in the GDM by addition to the ‘ink’ precursor for both the microporous layer and the catalyst layer; this made it possible to map separately both layers in a way that has not been reported before. It was found that hot pressing of membrane coated structures resulted in physical dispersion of those layers away from the membrane into the GDM itself. This fluorescence technique should be of interest to membrane electrode assembly manufacturers and fuel cell developers and could be used to track the degradation of different PTFE structures independently in the future.
Date Issued
2016-08-20
Date Acceptance
2016-07-31
Citation
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2016, 41 (39), pp.17631-17643
ISSN
1879-3487
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
17631
End Page
17643
Journal / Book Title
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Volume
41
Issue
39
Copyright Statement
© 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Hydrogen Energy Publications
LLC. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/
licenses/by/4.0/).
LLC. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/
licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (E
Grant Number
EP/I038586/1 - Ref: J12967
Subjects
09 Engineering
03 Chemical Sciences
Publication Status
Published