Impact of MPL Thickness on Water Management of PEMFC by Synchrotron X-ray Radiography

Synchrotron X-ray radiography was utilized to visualize a miniature fuel cell with an active area of 0.48 cm(2) at an effective spatial resolution of 10 mu m and 3 seconds per frame. Water in GDLs with MPL thicknesses of 0, 50, 100, 150 mu m and 50 mu m without a macro-substrate was quantified while the cell was operated at 0.5, 1.2 and 2.0 A/cm(2). The presence of MPL significantly reduced water content at the interface between the catalyst and GDL. The thickness of MPL had trivial impact on water morphology in the GDL. In the perspective of water management, the GDL consisting of MPL without a macro-substrate can be effective as it produced the least amount of water.