Facile Airbrush Fabrication of Gas Diffusion Layers Comprising Fine-Patterned Hydrophobic Double-Layer and Hydrophilic C

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Online ISSN 2198-0810 Print ISSN 2288-6206

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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 Hyunsoo Chun1,2 · Yongtae Kim1 · Hyoungseok Chae1,2 · Minyoung Lee1,2 · Byeol Han1,2 · Minwook Kim1,2 · Hyunsik Choi1,2 · Jong Won Hur1 · Han‑Sang Kim1 · Jong G. Ok1  Received: 11 February 2020 / Revised: 27 March 2020 / Accepted: 6 August 2020 © Korean Society for Precision Engineering 2020

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. Keywords  Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell · Gas diffusion layer · Airbrushing · Hydrophobic double-layer · Hydrophilic channel · Fine pattern

1 Introduction The recent trend of Industry 4.0 (4th Industrial Revolution) has vitalized the developments of user-specific and Internetof-Things (IoT) applications as well as eco-friendly systems

such as wearable devices, mobile healthcare solutions, and green transportations. In particular, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles draw increasing interests and needs as the next-generation environment-friendly transportation. In fuel cell vehicles, polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are widely

* Jong G. Ok [email protected]

Hyunsik Choi [email protected]

Hyunsoo Chun [email protected]

Jong Won Hur [email protected]

Yongtae Kim [email protected]

Han‑Sang Kim [email protected]

Hyoungseok Chae [email protected]

1



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

2



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

Minyoung Lee [email protected] Byeol Han [email protected] Minwook Kim [email protected]

Vol.:(0123456789) 13



International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manuf