Novel Porous-Transport-Layers for Fuel Cells and Clean Energy Applications

多孔传输层或气体扩散层（GDL）是聚合物电解质燃料电池（PEFC）的关键组成部分，其通过将碳纤维编织成碳布或通过将碳纤维压在一起制成碳纸，然后通过用疏水乳液完全饱和孔隙来提供防潮性。PEFC通过氢与氧反应产生电力，水是其唯一的副产品，使其成为下一代汽车和无人机的清洁动力解决方案，以减少温室气体排放。然而，GDL的耐用性差，因为它们容易被液态水淹没，以及燃料电池堆的成本阻碍了它们在零排放车辆和无人机中的广泛采用。为了使燃料电池堆在商业上可行，进一步降低成本需要具有成本效益和耐用的GDL。拟议的研究计划将创新概念引入到PEFC和相关清洁能源应用的新型GDL的设计和开发中，使用最先进的增材制造技术（3D打印），开发用于表征GDL的实验方案，并提供更深入的实践了解水滴生长和从其表面分离。该项目旨在将联合收割机实验表征和诊断与先进的数学建模相结合，以分析通过新设计的GDL的水传输，并优化其性能，以实现比常规GDL更好的除水和更高的耐久性。重点工作将包括以下几个方面：（i）使用增材制造技术设计和制造具有选择性润湿特性和表面结构的GDL;（ii）GDL表面形貌、粗糙度、粘附力和突破压力的表征以及水滴生长和GDL脱离的分析;（iii）GDL表面的表面形貌、粗糙度、粘附力和突破压力的表征。（iii）发展一个计算模型，以模拟水滴与GDL表面之间的界面相互作用;（iv）修改现有的PEFC模型并结合界面模型数据以优化GDL;（v）使用原位燃料电池性能测试来验证GDL的真实的寿命性能。新型GDL将通过提高电池耐用性和性能，减少燃料电池组件大规模生产过程中的制造时间和材料浪费，降低燃料电池车辆和无人机的成本。由于许多已知的燃料电池技术已经在北美，亚洲和德国开发，并通过许可协议在英国获得，拟议的项目将为英国提供一个独特的机会，成为定制GDL的领导者，并成为下一代燃料电池的先驱，用于车辆和无人机应用。

Porous transport layers or gas-diffusion layers (GDLs) are the key component of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs), which are made by weaving carbon fibres into a carbon cloth or by pressing carbon fibres together into a carbon paper and then rendered wet-proof by fully saturating the pores with a hydrophobic emulsion. PEFCs produce electric power by reacting hydrogen with oxygen with water as its only by-product, making them a clean power solution for next-generation vehicles and drones to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, GDL's poor durability, as they are prone to liquid-water flooding, and the cost of fuel-cell stacks hinder their widespread adoption in zero-emission vehicles and drones. Further cost reduction for making fuel-cell stack commercially viable requires cost-effective and durable GDLs. The proposed research programme introduces innovative concepts to the design and development of novel GDLs for PEFCs and related clean energy applications using state-of-the-art additive manufacturing techniques (3D printing), developing experimental protocols for characterising GDLs, and providing a deeper practical understanding of water-droplet growth and detachment from their surfaces. This project aims to combine experimental characterisation and diagnostics with advanced mathematical modelling to analyse water transport through newly designed GDLs and to optimise their properties for better water removal and higher durability than convectional GDLs. The key work will include the following areas: (i) design and fabrication of GDLs with selective wetting properties and surface structures using additive manufacturing techniques; (ii) characterisation of GDL's surface morphology, roughness, adhesion force, and breakthrough pressure and analysis of water-droplet growth and detachment from GDL; (iii) development of a computational model to simulate interfacial interactions between water-droplets and GDL surface; (iv) modification of an existing PEFC model and incorporation of the interfacial model data to optimise GDLs; (v) validation of GDL's real life performances using in-situ fuel cell performance testing. The novel GDLs will reduce the cost of fuel-cell vehicles and drones by improving the cell durability and performance, and reducing manufacturing time and material waste during the mass production of fuel-cell components. As many of the known fuel cell technologies have been developed in North America, Asia and Germany and acquired in the UK by license agreement, the proposed project will provide a unique opportunity for the UK be the leader in tailored GDLs as well as be the precursor in the development of next-generation fuel cells for vehicle and drone applications.