TIANJIN, (XINHUA) – Chinese scientists have developed a proton exchange membrane fuel cell with ultra-high volumetric power density, more than 80 per cent higher than the performance of mainstream counterparts.
Jiao Kui, a professor at Tianjin University’s School of Mechanical Engineering, and his team redesigned the proton exchange membrane fuel cell’s architecture, incorporating new components and optimising the gas-water-electric-heat transfer routes.
The team created an ultra-thin and ultra-high power density fuel cell. They eliminated traditional gas diffusion layers and flow channels by using ultra-thin carbon nanofibre film produced by electrospinning technology and metal foam.
This progress has contributed to a 90 per cent reduction in the thickness of the membrane electrode assembly and a 80 per cent reduction in mass transfer losses caused by reactant diffusion, nearly doubling the volumetric power density of the fuel cell.
The research team estimates that the peak volumetric power density of the fuel cell stack using the new structure will reach 9.8 kilowatts per litre.
Hydrogen fuel cells are regarded as one of the most promising technologies in the application of hydrogen energy. Increasing their volumetric power density, however, remains a significant technical challenge.
This breakthrough not only provides pivotal guidance for advancing proton exchange membrane fuel cell technology, but it also indicates a promising leap forward in the field of clean energy.
On Thursday, the findings were published in the international authoritative energy research journal Joule.
