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Self-Humidifying Electrodes at Low Humidity for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs)

Excessive humidity within polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) interrupts the flow of reactant gases, ultimately leading to substantial reduced performance. Also, low levels of water in the electrode result in an increased ohmic resistance due to membrane drying at low humidity levels. In this study, a self-humidifying electrode was prepared by adding a hydrophilic polymer, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), to the catalyst layer. Glutaraldehyde (GA) was employed as a crosslinking agent to prevent washing of PVA during cell operation. Non-crosslinked hydroxyl groups of PVA assist in the retention of water from the reactant gas. Improvement of the initial performance and durability is predicted at low humidity levels. Due to their water-absorbing characteristics, the novel electrodes are appropriate for applications to self-humidifying MEA.