Conductive Materials for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Bipolar Plates Made from PVDF,PET and Co‐continuous PVDF/PET Filled with Carbon Additives

The aim of this work was to develop and characterise electrically conductive materials for proton exchange membrane fuel cells and bipolar plates (BPPs). These BPPs were made from highly conductive blends of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), as matrix phase. The conductive materials were developed from carefully formulated blends composed of conductive carbon black (CB) powder and, in some cases, graphite synthetic flakes mixed with pure PET, PVDF or with PVDF/PET systems. They were first developed by twin‐screw extrusion process then compression‐molded to give BPP final shape. As the developed blends have to meet properties suitable for BPP applications, they were characterised for their rheological properties, electrical through‐plane resistivity (the inverse of conductivity), oxygen permeability, flexural and impact properties. Results showed that lower resistivity was obtained with PVDF/CB blends due to the higher interfacial energy between the PVDF matrix and CB and also the higher density and crystallinity of PVDF, compared to those of PET. It was also observed that the lowest resistivity values were obtained with mixing PVDF and PET at controlled compositions to ensure PVDF/PET co‐continuous morphology. Also, slow cooling rates helped to attain the lowest values of through‐plane resistivity for all studied blends. This behaviour was related to the higher crystallinity obtained with low cooling rates leading to smaller amorphous regions in which carbon particles are much more concentrated.     

Alumina–Carbon Nanofibers Nanocomposites Obtained by Spark Plasma Sintering for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Bipolar Plates

There is an increasing demand of multifunctional materials for a wide variety of technological developments. Bipolar plates for proton exchange membrane fuel cells are an example of complex functionality components that must show among other properties high mechanical strength, electrical, and thermal conductivity. The present research explored the possibility of using alumina–carbon nanofibers (CNFs) nanocomposites for this purpose. In this study, it was studied for the first time the whole range of powder compositions in this system. Homogeneous powders mixtures were prepared and subsequently sintered by spark plasma sintering. The materials obtained were thoroughly characterized and compared in terms of properties required to be used as bipolar plates. The control on material microstructure and composition allows designing materials where mechanical or electrical performances are enhanced. A 50/50 vol.% alumina–CNFs composite appears to be a very promising material for this kind of application.     

Development of Low‐Cost Advanced Composite Bipolar Plate for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell�

The bipolar plate is one of the most imperative components of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) which consumes up to 80% of weight and near about 50% of the total cost of the cell. Development of cost‐effective composite bipolar plate with high electrical conductivity and high mechanical strength is both technically and economically demanding. In this paper, a low‐cost advanced composite bipolar plate is developed by bulk moulding compression (BMC) technique. It is clear from the experiments that by increasing the matrix volume fraction, bulk density and electrical conductivity of a composite bipolar plate decrease but shore hardness increases. Test results clearly show that best overall properties are achieved when a constant volume fraction of polymer matrix and natural graphite is reinforced with synthetic graphite, carbon black and carbon fibre. This bipolar plate was found to have high conductivity, less porosity and high mechanical strength. The I–V characteristics in single cell test exhibited more uniform power density at both higher and lower current densities     

质子交换膜燃料电池中抗CO中毒的PtM阳极催化剂

介绍了PtM阳极催化剂加入第二金属组分后对Pt晶体结构、颗粒大小、分散度等方面的影响以及PtM相互之间、PtM与载体之间的相互作用。由于存在这些相互作用，使其改变了Pt的CO中毒特性，导致了不同的反应活化能、反应级数以及CO的表面覆盖率。评述了目前几种主要的催化剂抗CO中毒机理及三组分和多组分催化剂的研究进展。     

Candle Soot as Efficient Support for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Catalyst

Candle soot deposited from the candle flame was used as a catalyst support for an anode catalyst in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell. The results showed that Pt/soot hybrids prepared by magnetron sputtering of 5 nm platinum films on candle soot exhibit very high mass activity in the fuel cell, which is more than one order of magnitude higher than that for commercial catalyst. The elementary preparation, high surface‐to‐volume ratio, good conductivity and hydrophobicity make candle soot a promising type of the support for PEMFCs catalyst.     

质子交换膜燃料电池系统(PEMFC)的控制策略综述

对质子交换膜燃料电池(PEMFC)系统进行了简单的介绍和控制特点分析,并对其控制策略进行了综述,分析和比较了包括常规PID控制、预测控制、模糊控制、神经网络控制以及在此基础上的多种复合控制策略,最后结合国内外至今的相关研究成果,展望了质子交换膜燃料电池系统控制策略的研究方向和发展前景。     

Expanded Graphite–Epoxy–Flexible Silica Composite Bipolar Plates for PEM Fuel Cells

Silica impregnated expanded graphite–epoxy composites are developed as bipolar plates for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. These composite plates were prepared by solution impregnation, followed by compression molding and curing. Mechanical properties, electrical conductivities, corrosion resistance, and contact angles were determined as a function of impregnated content. The plates show high flexural strength with 5% methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) addition (20 MPa) and in‐plane conductivity of 131 S cm⁻¹ that meet the DOE target (>100 S cm⁻¹). Corrosion current values as low as 1.09 μA cm⁻² were obtained. The contact angle was found to be 80°. Power density of 1 W cm⁻² was achieved with custom made expanded graphite–polymer composite plates. High efficiency values were obtained at low current regions.     

质子交换膜燃料电池关键技术研究进展

简述了质子交换膜燃料电池(PEMFC)的工作原理及特点;综述了PEMFC关键技术的最新研究进展,包括质子交换膜合成、电催化剂制备、膜电极工艺及水管理和热控制;并简介了我国PEMFC的开发情况。     

纳米结构氮化钛在质子交换膜燃料电池中的应用

电极材料是开发高能量密度、高能量转换率的能量转换器件中最关键的一环。纳米结构氮化钛具备高导电性、耐腐蚀性、高比表面积、强大的电荷储存能力和电化学稳定性,在电极材料的研究中展现了广阔的应用。本文综述了近年来纳米结构氮化钛在质子交换膜燃料电池领域中的应用,并对其制备和应用作了展望。     

An Algorithm for On‐line Measurement of the Internal Resistance of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

The internal resistance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system is difficult to measure on‐line due to its variation with time. The traditional electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and its variants such as high frequency resistance (HFR) can be used to measure the resistance when the system is in steady state, but they fail in automotive applications where a change in speed or inclination modifications could lead to a sharp fluctuation in demand on power. In order to resolve this problem, a novel algorithm is proposed in this paper to estimate the resistance based on the alternating current (AC) impedance spectroscopy technique by adding an extra term to eliminate the errors caused by voltage variation or when the system is under unsteady state. Numerical simulations show that the proposed algorithm can not only accurately track the variation of the internal resistance, but is also robust against the noises caused by uncertainty and measurements.     

Synergistic Effects of Carbon Fillers of Phenolic Resin Based Composite Bipolar Plates on the Performance of PEM Fuel Cell

The most essential and costly component of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells is the bipolar plate. The production of suitable composite bipolar plates for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell with good mechanical properties and high electrical conductivity is scientifically and technically very challenging. This paper reports the development of composite bipolar plates using exfoliated graphite, carbon black, and graphite powder in resole‐typed phenol formaldehyde. The exfoliated graphite with maximum exfoliated volume of 570 ± 10 mL g⁻¹ used in this study was prepared by microwave irradiation of chemically intercalated natural flake graphite in a few minutes. The composite plates were prepared by varying exfoliated graphite content from 10 to 35 wt.% in phenolic resin along with fixed weight percentage of carbon black (5 wt.%) and graphite powder (3 wt.%) by compression molding. The composite plates with filler weight percentage of 35/5/3/exfoliated graphite/carbon black/graphite powder offer in‐plane and trough‐plane electrical conductivities of 374.42 and 97.32 S cm⁻¹, bulk density 1.58 g cm⁻³, compressive strength 70.43 MPa, flexural strength 61.82 MPa, storage modulus 10.25 GPa, microhardness 73.23 HV and water absorption 0.22%. Further, I–V characteristics notify that exfoliated graphite/carbon black/graphite powder/resin composite bipolar plates in unit fuel cell shows better cell performance compared exfoliated graphite/resin composite bipolar plates. The composite plates own desired mechanical properties with low bulk density, high electrical conductivity, and good thermal stability as per the U.S. department of energy targets at low filler concentration and can be used as bipolar plates for proton exchange membrane fuel cells.     

Applying Shape‐Controlled Pt Nano‐dendrites Supported on Carbon for Membrane‐Electrode Assembly in a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

Platinum nano‐dendrites of various sizes were applied as cathode catalysts in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The membrane electrode assembly (MEA) fabricated with Pt nano‐dendrites showed very high ORR activity at high potential ranges due to lower activation overpotential. But it showed the cell performance only comparable to commercial Pt/C due to Ohmic and mass transfer resistance at high current density ranges. These results demonstrate that both high intrinsic activity of the catalysts and the formation of three‐phase interface with efficient proton, electron, and mass transfer should be considered together when shape‐controlled metal nanoparticles are used as cathode catalysts in a PEMFC.     

Parameter Estimation for a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Model Using GRG Technique

The parameter estimation of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) model is important to accurately present the relationship between voltage versus current. Regarding this problem, the difference between observed voltage and model‐calibrated voltage, which composed of cell reversible voltage, activation voltage drop, ohmic loss, and concentration voltage drop, should be minimized. So far, various optimization algorithms have tackled this problem. However, there is still a way to improve the solution quality using another technique, and in order to fairly compare the solution qualities among the techniques, more information is required which has been so far missed. Thus, this study proposed generalized reduced gradient (GRG) technique which obtained good results. When compared with two variants of harmony search and two variants of particle swarm optimization, GRG could find much better results in terms of mean square error (MSE). Also, this study provided full problem formulation and numerical dataset, which was scattered in literature and not clearly provided in previous literature. Hopefully, this study invites more researchers to replicate this bench‐mark problem of the PEMFC parameter estimation and to tackle it using their own techniques in the future.     

质子交换膜燃料电池研究现状及发展

质子交换膜燃料电池是一种高效清洁的发电技术,具有反应动力学快、启动温度低等特点。目前质子交换膜燃料电池技术发展迅速,有望得到广泛推广和普及。本文从质子交换膜燃料电池核心组件出发,对近年来质子交换膜燃料电池的发展进行了简要概述。从材料出发,对核心组件进行分类,详细介绍了质子交换膜、催化剂以及气体扩散层的研究现状和技术特点,综述了各组件的研究方法、改进方法以及研究进展,展望了质子交换膜燃料电池的研究方向和未来发展趋势。基于高温环境下的各种优势,具有短侧链、低当量的且适用于高温低湿环境的质子交换膜仍将是重点研究对象。质子交换膜燃料电池将进一步向低Pt甚至无Pt方向发展,同时未来将实现无增湿条件下的水平衡。     

Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) Flow Field Plate: Design,Materials and Characterisation

This review describes some recent developments in the area of flow field plates (FFPs) for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The function, parameters and design of FFPs in PEM fuel cells are outlined and considered in light of their performance. FFP materials and manufacturing methods are discussed and current in situ and ex situ characterisation techniques are described.     

Carbon‐Polymer Composite Bipolar Plate for HT‐PEMFC

Graphene reinforced carbon‐polymer composite bipolar plate is developed using resole phenol formaldehyde resin, and conductive reinforcements (natural graphite, carbon black, and carbon fiber) using compression molding technique. Graphene is reinforced into the composite to alter various properties of the composite bipolar plate. The developed composite bipolar plate is characterized and the effect of temperature on mechanical and electrical properties is investigated with an overall aim to achieve benchmark given by US‐DOE and Plug Power Inc. The flexural strength and electrical conductivity of the composites was almost stable with the increase in temperature upto 175 °C. The composite bipolar plate maintained high in‐plane and through‐plane electrical conductivities, which is about 409.23 and 98 S cm^–1, respectively, at 175 °C. The flexural strength and shore hardness of the developed composite was around 56.42 MPa and 60, respectively, at 175 °C, and on further increase in the temperature the mechanical strengths deceases sharply. The electrical and mechanical properties of the composite bipolar plates are within the US‐DoE target. However, the various properties of the composite bipolar plate could not be sustained above 175 °C.     

Corrosion Investigation of Chromium Nitride and Chromium Carbide Coatings for PEM Fuel Cell Bipolar Plates in Simulated Cathode Condition

Transition metals nitrides and carbides are used as coatings on bipolar plates for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) due to their suitable electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance. Chromium electroplated AISI 316L stainless steel bipolar plates were treated by plasma nitriding and solid carburizing to form chromium nitride and chromium carbide, respectively. The presence of CrN/Cr₂N and Cr₇C₃/Cr₂₃C₆ was verified by X‐ray diffractometry (XRD) in chromium nitride and chromium carbide coatings, respectively. The corrosion behavior of coatings was investigated by potentiodynamic polarization, potentiostatic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in simulated cathode condition. Coated samples showed better corrosion behavior than untreated bare sample. EIS results indicated decrease in corrosion current density after 500 hours, however coatings acted as barrier against solution access to substrate. Corrosion current densities of coatings were close to targets of United Stated department of energy (DOE).     

Metallic Bipolar Plates for High Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells

High temperature polymer membrane fuel cells (HTPEMFCs) are promising devices for future mobile applications. To minimize phosphoric acid migration from the membranes and to reduce the total stack weight and size metallic bipolar plates are a promising alternative. So far only very few published results are available on the use of metallic bipolar plates in HTPEMFCs. During this work a single test cell was equipped with metallic endplates to investigate the possibility of using metallic bipolar plates in HTPEMFC stacks. Furthermore we tried to simulate the environments present in an HTPEMFC by furnace exposures in an attempt to develop a simplified test method for accelerated corrosion of bipolar plate materials. It was found that the performance of the HTPEM test cell decreased by about 15 µV h⁻¹. More corrosion products were seen on the cathode side samples, whereas on the anode side sample the corrosion attack of the steel was more severe. These results were successfully replicated in simulated furnace experiments.     

质子交换膜燃料电池技术的发展及应用

概述了质子交换膜燃料电池(PEMFC)的发展历史和现状,并对其应用前景进行了展望;对质子交换膜燃料电池的膜、膜电极、电催化剂和双极板等关键技术进行了简要介绍。     

Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Operation and Degradation in Short‐Circuit

Hybridization of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) and ultra capacitors (UC) are considered as an alternative way to implement high autonomy, high dynamic, and reversible energy sources. PEMFC allow high efficiency and high autonomy, however their dynamic response is limited and this source does not allow recovering energy. UC appears to be a complementary source to fuel cell systems (FCS) due to their high power density, fast dynamics, and reversibility. A direct hybridization of these sources could allow reducing the number of power converters and then the total cost of the hybridized system. Simulations show the behavior of the hybrid source when the fuel cell and ultra capacitors are interconnected and the natural energy management when a charge is connected. The results show that the magnitude of the transient current supplied by the fuel cell to charge the UC can be much higher than its nominal value. An experimental setup is implemented to study the effects of these high currents in a PEMFC. This is done by imposing a controlled short‐circuit between the electrodes. The PEMFC degradation is quantified by using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.