Effects of the cathode gas diffusion layer characteristics on the performance of polymer electrolyte fuel cells

Polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) electrodes were prepared by applying different porous gas diffusion half-layers (GDHLs) onto each face of a carbon cloth support, followed by the deposition of a catalyst layer onto one of these half-layers. The performance of PEFCs in H-2/air operation using cathodes with GDHLs presenting different characteristics were compared. The best result was obtained using cathodes with GDHLs having polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) contents of 30 wt % in the gas side and 15 wt % in the catalyst side. This behaviour was explained in terms of a better water management within the cell.