Advanced Manufacturing of Gas Diffusion Layers with Highly Engineered Porosity

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells are exciting for many reasons and are one of the more advanced alternative energy technologies to realize early commercialization – fuel cell powered vehicles are on the road- The gas diffusion layer is a critical component in these fuel cell systems which not only controls water and reactant transport, but contributes to thermal management, and provide electronic continuity between the catalyst layer and bi polar plates- Gas diffusion layer technology needs to be advanced to enhance fuel cell lifetime and performance – often the gas diffusion layer is the limiting component of the fuel cell system- Specific improvements are necessary in the areas of mass transport properties, thermal properties, bi polar plate integration, and new materials- This project will create an entirely new gas diffusion layer which has been theorized, but could not previously be produced- This advancement is enabled by an advanced manufacturing approach which is actively being developed- The embodiment of this material will rely on an entirely unique microstructure to address all of the improvement areas listed above-