SURFACE AREA MICROSTRUCTURE GAS DIFFUSION LAYER AND ITS EFFECTS ON MEA FUEL CELL

Abstract

The Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) microstructure is the path in which the input gases, namely, hydrogen and compressed air, will follow through in the process of obtaining energy from the polymer electrode membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system. The efficiency of the conversion is dependent on the microstructure model of the materials used in making this gas diffusion layer (GDE or gas diffusion electrode (GDE). For every change in microstructure dimension, hence the electrical output obtained will be affected. Therefore, controlling the MEA microstructure in its fabrication is an imperative step in producing a good MEA. The controlling parameters used are the surface area of micro pore inside the Gas Diffusion Layer (GDL). The methods of BET are utilized in the study of surfaces, respectively; while the single stack fuel cell simulation is used in obtaining the current-voltage relationship. Results of the analyses showed that the current MEA Fuel Cell increasing as well as increasing surface area GDL. Whereas, surface area GDL is one of the parameter control to get GDL appropriate. Keywords: surface area, cell potential fuel cell I