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Facile Airbrush Fabrication of Gas Diffusion Layers Comprising Fine-Patterned Hydrophobic Double-Layer and Hydrophilic Channel for Improved Water Removal in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells

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Abstract

We develop a facile and eco-friendly airbrush-based method for the fabrication of gas diffusion layers (GDLs) with improved water removal characteristics for high-performance polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The GDL architecture airbrushed on a porous carbon paper uniquely comprises hydrophobic double-layer coating and fine-patterned hydrophilic channels, which facilitate the outbound penetration of water generated from inside the membrane electrode assembly without flooding or undesirable mingling with oxygen inflow. We first prepare the colloids and solutions suitable for airbrushing, optimize the airbrush coating structure based on the water contact angle measurements, and finally confirm the improved water removal characteristics of the fabricated GDL samples by measuring the water transuding times. Our GDL fabrication procedure based on simple and fast airbrushing does not require costly vacuum process or toxic chemical treatment, thus may benefit practical and scalable manufacturing of high-performance PEMFCs towards the next-generation green transportation.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) Grants funded by the Korean Government (No. 2015R1A5A1037668 (Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT)) and No. 2019R1A6A1A03032119 (Ministry of Education)).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, 232 Gongneung-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul, 01811, Korea

    Hyunsoo Chun, Yongtae Kim, Hyoungseok Chae, Minyoung Lee, Byeol Han, Minwook Kim, Hyunsik Choi, Jong Won Hur, Han-Sang Kim & Jong G. Ok

  2. Research Center for Electrical and Information Technology, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, 232 Gongneung-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul, 01811, Korea

    Hyunsoo Chun, Hyoungseok Chae, Minyoung Lee, Byeol Han, Minwook Kim & Hyunsik Choi

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  1. Hyunsoo Chun
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  2. Yongtae Kim
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  3. Hyoungseok Chae
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  4. Minyoung Lee
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  5. Byeol Han
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  6. Minwook Kim
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  8. Jong Won Hur
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  9. Han-Sang Kim
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  10. Jong G. Ok
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Correspondence to Jong G. Ok.

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Chun, H., Kim, Y., Chae, H. et al. Facile Airbrush Fabrication of Gas Diffusion Layers Comprising Fine-Patterned Hydrophobic Double-Layer and Hydrophilic Channel for Improved Water Removal in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells. Int. J. of Precis. Eng. and Manuf.-Green Tech. 8, 1461–1469 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40684-020-00254-y

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