Nanostructured Carbon-Based Gas Diffusion Layers for Enhanced Fuel Cell Performance

Fuel cells can efficiently convert chemical energy into electricity through electrochemical reactions- They are often considered as the ideal power source for both mobile and stationary applications due to their high-energy efficiency, high power density and low/zero emissions- However, the widespread commercialization of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells is still hindered by the high cost and limited lifetime of the components, including the gas diffusion layers (GDLs)- TDA Research Inc- (TDA) proposes to develop improved GDLs using our specialty carbons to address the mass transport and water management issues that limit their performance- In Phase I we will prepare and characterize new materials and assess their efficacy under conditions representative of automotive fuel cell use- In Phase II, we will scale-up the manufacture of the GDLs and partner with an existing manufacturer of GDLs to market them to fuel-cell manufacturers-