Material Processing of Bamboo for Use as a Gas Diffusion Layer in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

The material processing procedure of bamboo was investigated for use as a gas diffusion layer (GDL) of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). Bamboo fibers were obtained from bamboo ( Phyllostachys edulis, moso bamboo) through mechanical treatment, delignification in NaOH solution at 120 °C, and subsequent defibration using an electric blender. The fibers contained cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin as 70, 20, and 10 wt %, respectively. The fibers were molded into bamboo fiber sheets (BFS) and were subjected to carbonization to give carbonized bamboo fiber sheets (CBFS), in which the fibrous morphology remained. Both the in-plane and the through-plane electrical conductivities were measured after carbonization. For the first time, a single PEMFC operation test was demonstrated using CBFS as a GDL. As current GDLs are based on carbon fiber obtained from fossil fuel resources, the implementation of a plant-based method for GDL production would be beneficial in terms of CO 2 reduction as well as sustainability.