Biomass-derived High-conductivity Carbon Cloth: Preparation and Application as Gas Diffusion Layers in Fuel Cells

doi:10.15541/jim20230127

Abstract

Abstract:

The gas diffusion layer (GDL) is a critical component of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) and accounts for 40%-50% of the fuel cell membrane's cost. Developing a low-cost and high-performance GDL is imperative to advance the commercialization of PEMFCs. In this study, we generated a flexible carbon cloth with high electrical conductivity and porosity from cellulose cloth at a low temperature (1500 ℃). The carbon cloth is composed of micron-sized carbon fibers with a porosity of up to 76.93%. Through catalytic graphitization of iron-based compounds, massive carbon nanotube clusters were formed in situ on the surface of carbon fibers, which effectively enhanced the electrical conductivity of the carbon cloth. The in-plane resistance was as low as 34 mΩ·cm while the through-plane resistance was 2.8 mΩ·cm under a pressure of 2 MPa, meeting the performance standard of commercial carbon cloth. Furthermore, the PEMFC with the prepared carbon cloth as GDLs exhibits a power density of 0.4 W·cm^-2 at current density of 0.7 A·cm^-2, exceeding the device with commercial carbon cloth (0.34 W·cm^-2 at 0.7 A·cm^-2). This study demonstrates that the prepared biomass-derived carbon cloth with low-cost and high- performance holds great potential for advanced GDLs for PEMFCs.

Key words: biomass, carbon cloth, carbon nanotube, gas diffusion layer, fuel cell

CLC Number:

TQ174

TIAN Yubin, TIAN Chaofan, LI Sen, ZHAO Yongxin, XING Tao, LI Zhi, CHEN Xiaoru, XIANG Shuairong, DAI Pengcheng. Biomass-derived High-conductivity Carbon Cloth: Preparation and Application as Gas Diffusion Layers in Fuel Cells[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2023, 38(11): 1316-1322.

Figures/Tables 17

Fig. 1 Preparation procedure of biomass-derived carbon cloth

Fig. 2 XRD patterns (a), Raman patterns (b) and microcosmic preparative process (c) of biomass-derived carbon cloth

Fig. 3 SEM images of cross-section (a), surface (b), magnified (c) and TEM (d) image of CC-1500

Fig. 4 Survey (a), C1s (b), N1s (c), and Fe2p (d) XPS spectra of CC-1500

Fig. 5 In-plane resistance (a) and through-plane resistance varied with relative pressure (b) of different GDLs

Fig. 6 Pore size distributions of CC-1500 and CC-CE

Fig. 7 Polarization curves (a) and power density curves (b), EIS plots (c), and long-term durability tests at 0.6 V, 65 ℃(d) of PEMFCs using different GDLs C: Capacitor; Q: Inductor

Fig. S1 Diagram of single battery performance test

Fig. S2 Cross-section SEM images of CC-1000 with different magnifications

Fig. S3 SEM images of CC-N with different magnifications

Fig. S4 TEM (a) and HRTEM(b) images of CC-1000

Fig. S5 TEM (a) and HRTEM(b) images of CC-1500

Fig. S6 EDS element mappings of CC-1500

Fig. S7 Survey (a), C1s (b), N1s (c) and Fe2p XPS spectra (d) of CC-1000

Fig. S8 Full surface picture (a) and the folded pictures of CC-1500 (b-d)

Fig. S9 Polarization curves(a, c) and power density curves (b, d) of PEMFCs using different GDLs at 55 and 75 ℃

Table S1 EIS fitting data of CC-1500, CC-CE and CC-N

GDL	R_Ω/Ω	R_ct,A/Ω	R_ct,C/Ω
CC-1500	0.3123	0.0832	0.1047
CC-CE	0.3301	0.0658	0.1322
CC-N	0.3442	0.1081	0.1659

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