Evaluation of a cathode gas channel with a water absorption layer/waste channel in a PEFC by using visualization technique

The polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) cathode is a performance-limiting component due to the slower oxygen reduction kinetics and mass transport limitations imposed by water generated in an electrochemical reaction. This water assists the performance of the PEFC by preventing drying of the polymer electrolyte. Conversely, the water hinders the transport of the reactant species by blocking the pores in the gas diffusion layer. Moreover, the effective electrode area is decreased, causing the cathode channel to become clogged with supersaturated water from the gas diffusion layer. This problem is overcome by separating the gas channel and the waste channel, and installing a water absorption layer (WAL). The new “WAL type” gas channel has an installed WAL in which the designed waste channel is compared with the gas flow characteristics of a conventional cathode gas channel by using the visualization technique. Gas flowing into the WAL type separator is barely blocked before the WAL absorbs water condensed in the cathode gas channel. Therefore, the WAL type separator effectively improves the PEFC performance.