Enhanced low-humidity performance of proton-exchange membrane fuel cell by introducing hydrophilic CNTs in membrane electrode assembly |
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Affiliation: | 1. School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China;2. School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China;3. Energy Centre, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Meiring Naudé Road, Brummeria, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa |
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Abstract: | Hydrophilic carbon nanotubes (HCNTs) were introduced into the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) to improve its low-humidity performance. The effects of types, placement, loading, and relative humidity on the MEA performance were investigated. It has been found that the MEA with 20 ?wt% HCNTs loading both in anode and cathode achieved the best self-humidifying performance. Its current density reached 1550 ?mA ?cm?2 at 0.6 ?V, with a maximum power density of 953 ?mW/cm2 at 70 ?°C, 30 psi and 30% relative humidity conditions. Besides, the stability test shows that its current density at 0.6 ?V only decreased by 6.4% after 44 ?h performance test, while the performance of blank MEA without HCNTs decreased by 45% within 6 ?h testing period. This extraordinary performance under low humidity condition is ascribed to that the HCNTs contained in the MEA improve the water management and mass transportation by functioning as a dispersant and hydrophilic agent. |
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Keywords: | Membrane electrode assembly Low humidity Carbon nanotubes Power density Stability |
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