A new microstructure-based paradigm for designing the gas diffusion media of proton exchange membrane fuel cells

随着原油短缺和全球变暖，能源是当今世界面临的一个核心问题。燃料电池已经成为一种很有前途的清洁能源技术，可能有助于解决迫在眉睫的能源危机。氢燃料电池使氢和氧发生反应产生电能。明显的好处是零有害排放，唯一的产品是水。当用于汽车和家用电器时，燃料电池非常安静和清洁，并且避免了燃烧化石燃料造成的大部分环境污染。燃料电池技术已经找到了一些利基应用，但由于成本高、耐用性差和性能差，大规模商业化仍然受到阻碍。限制功率输出的一个关键因素是燃料电池中蒸汽和液态水的管理。过少的水会导致膜干和损失

With shortage of crude oil and global warming, energy is a central issue facing the world today. Fuel cells have emerged as a promising clean-energy technology that may contribute to resolving the looming energy crisis. A hydrogen fuel cell reacts hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity. The obvious benefit is zero harmful emission, the only product being water. When used in automobiles and household appliances, fuel cells are quiet and exceptionally clean, and avoid most of the environmental pollution from burning fossil fuels. Fuel cell technology has found some niche applications already, but large-scale commercialization is still hampered by high cost, poor durability and performance. A key factor that limits the power output is the management of vapor and liquid water in fuel cells. Too little water causes membrane dry-out and loss of