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Abstract: In this study, hygroscopic γ-alumina particles were added into the catalyst layer of membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) to improve the wettability and performance of PEMFC at low-humidity conditions. Hygroscopic γ-alumina particles with a BET surface area of 442m2 g−1 and an average pore diameter of 9nm were synthesized by a three-step sol–gel procedure. Uniform Pt/C/γ-alumina catalyst ink was prepared by utilizing an ultrasonic method, and then sprayed on commercial hydrophobic carbon clothes to serve as the catalyst layer. The water contact angles of the catalyst layer with various amounts of γ-alumina additions 0%, 10%, 20% and 40% were measured to be 136°, 109°, 79° and 0°, respectively. Effect of adding γ-alumina particles into the catalyst layer on the single cell performance was investigated under different temperatures of the electrode humidifier. The increased wettability of the cathode catalyst layer with γ-alumina addition reduced the cell performance due to water flooding, which demonstrates the hygroscopic characteristic of γ-alumina particles. On the other hand, when the γ-alumina particles were added into the anode catalyst layer, it was found that the MEA with 10% γ-alumina addition had the highest current density at anode humidifier temperatures ranging from 25 to 55°C. Nevertheless, the MEA with 40% γ-alumina addition into the anode catalyst layer showed the lowest current density because of the high electrical resistance of the catalyst layer and the water flooding in the anode caused by excess water absorption. The increased wettability of the anode catalyst layer by an appropriate amount of γ-alumina additions also enhances the water adsorption of the anode due to back diffusion. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this study, a TiVCr hydrogen storage alloy was coated onto the anode gas diffusion layer (GDL) of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) by direct-current sputtering to improve cell performance and durability. Scanning electron microscopy analysis indicated that the GDLs are well coated and that the TiVCr coating shows pyramidal protrusions. The single-cell performance of PEMFCs, in which the GDLs were coated with TiVCr hydrogen storage alloy as the anode, was investigated at cell temperatures of 25 and 65 °C (non-humidification and full-humidification conditions, respectively). The membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) with TiVCr hydrogen storage alloy-coated GDL (10 min sputtering time) exhibited optimal performance at 25 and 65 °C, with power densities 18.49% and 43.67%, respectively, higher than that without TiVCr hydrogen storage alloy coating. The MEA with the TiVCr-coated GDL obtained by 60 min of sputtering exhibited 90.6% greater durability under no-hydrogen flow conditions than the MEA without the TiVCr hydrogen storage alloy coating. These results demonstrate for the first time that GDLs coated with a hydrogen storage alloy such as TiVCr may be applied in PEMFCs to improve their performance and durability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]