Transport Phenomena in Gas Diffusion Layers for Fuel Cells
Summary
Gas diffusion layers (GDLs) are key to the performance and durability of polymer electrolyte fuel cells, serving as conduits for reactant gases, product water and heat. Their fibrous microstructure and wettability govern multi-phase transport: gases diffuse through interconnected void spaces while liquid water is displaced under capillary forces and pressure gradients. Structural features such as porosity, tortuosity and anisotropy dictate in-plane and through-plane permeability, influencing reactant distribution at the catalyst interface. Hydrophobic treatments and the inclusion of a microporous layer (MPL) further modulate water management by tailoring pore size distribution and surface energy. Advances in pore-scale imaging and modelling have revealed the interplay between breakthrough pressure, liquid saturation and local condensation, guiding the design of graded and composite GDL architectures. Optimising these transport phenomena is essential for high-current operation, flood prevention and long-term stability, with direct implications for automotive, stationary and portable fuel-cell applications.
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Transport Phenomena in Gas Diffusion Layers for Fuel Cells publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in transport phenomena in gas diffusion layers for fuel cells across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Gas diffusion layer (GDL): The porous fibrous medium that facilitates the transport of reactant gases to and product water from the catalyst layer in fuel cells.
Microporous layer (MPL): A thin, fine-pored layer between the catalyst and the GDL that enhances water management by refining pore structure and hydrophobicity.
Porosity: The ratio of void volume to total volume in a porous material, determining capacity to store and transport fluids.
Permeability: A measure of a porous medium’s ability to allow fluids or gases to pass through under a pressure gradient.
Breakthrough pressure: The minimum capillary pressure required to initiate liquid displacement through the smallest pores in a porous medium.
Lattice Boltzmann method (LBM): A numerical technique for simulating fluid flow and mass transport at the pore scale by modelling particle distributions on a discrete lattice.
Operando X-ray tomographic microscopy: A real-time imaging technique that captures internal structural changes in materials under operating conditions at high spatial resolution.
References
- Liquid Water Characteristics in the Compressed Gradient Porosity Gas Diffusion Layer of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells Using the Lattice Boltzmann Method. Energies (2023).
- Effects of Gas Diffusion Layer Substrates on PEFC Water Management: Part I. Operando Liquid Water Saturation and Gas Diffusion Properties. Journal of The Electrochemical Society (2021).
- Droplet and Percolation Network Interactions in a Fuel Cell Gas Diffusion Layer. Journal of The Electrochemical Society (2020).
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