Jigsaw Puzzle Inspired Patterning of Gas Diffusion Layers for Enhanced Water Management in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells.

ABSTRACT: Under high current density operation, water generation at the cathode of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) floods the electrode, resulting in severe mass transport limitation and an associated voltage drop. Water management is thus of crucial importance in improving the overall performance of fuel cell systems. Gas diffusion layers (GDLs) with independent pathways for either gaseous oxygen or liquid water transport present a potential solution to this issue. Here a novel, simple, and scalable method is presented for inducing patterned hydrophobicity into GDLs. Hydrophilic GDLs are prepared by immersion of commercial hydrophobic GDLs in hydrogen peroxide. Circular disks are then punched from these using a precision die-cutter. Meanwhile, an array of corresponding holes is punched into

SUBMITTER: Can EM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12631844 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature