Fuel Cells
Pore structure of fuel cell components (membranes, GDLs, separators, electrodes) governs flow and kinetics of physio-chemical processes in the fuel cell.
One of the critical factors which determine the performance of fuel cells is the pore structure characteristic of many of the fuel cell components such as membranes, GDLs, separators, and electrodes. Pore structure governs the flow and the kinetics of the physio-chemical processes which occur in the fuel cell.
The pore structure characteristics, important and relevant for fuel cell components are pore diameter, pore throat diameter, pore volume, pore distribution, graded pore structure, surface area, external surface area, total porosity, hydrophobic and hydrophilic nature of pores in a mixture, liquid and gas permeability, and diffusional flow.
In a working fuel cell, the chemical environment, the operating temperature, the humidity, and the stresses generated during the operation can considerably alter the pore structure. Therefore, not only the determination of pore structure characteristics is important, evaluation of the influence of stress, temperature, and chemical environments on structural characteristics is also relevant.
Related Products: Fuel Cell Porometer, Capillary Flow Porometers, Pycnometer, Gas Diffusion Permeameter, Aquapore Water Intrusion Porosimeter.
Related Publications: Fuel Cells R&D; Fuel Cell-Conference: India Presentation; Fuel Cell R&D: Promotional Material; Fuel Cell Porometer; Fuel Cell Seminar; PMI Fuel Cell; A. Jena and K. Gupta (2001), 96, 214–219; D. Li, M. W. Frey, and Y. L. Joo (2006), J. Membr. Sci., 286, 104–114.