Influences of Gas Diffusion Layers with Pitch-based Carbon Coated in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell

For the purpose to increase performance in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell, self-made and commercial carbon papers with pitch-based carbon (meso-phase pitch and coal tar pitch) coated of gas diffusion layers have been investigated in this study. In order to improve the electrical conductivity and reduce surface indentation of carbon fibers in the paper of gas diffusion layers, we modified the carbon papers with pitch coated. Various analyses (through-plane resistance, SEM, contact angle, Gurley porosity and cell performance) were used to research the characters of carbon paper. SEM morphologies showed that surface of carbon fiber in treated CPs were smoother than untreated ones. Contact angles of carbon papers increased 3.62% and 5.70% for self-made GDL-MP and GDL-A240, respectively. Cell performances showed that current densities of self-made GDL-MP and GDL-A240 increased 16.7% and 34.3% at 0.5V loaded, respectively. And also 13.8% increased for coated and uncoated commercial CPs.