sc7b02207_si_001.pdf (722.72 kB)
Green Composite Papers via Use of Natural Binders and Graphene for PEM Fuel Cell Electrodes
journal contribution
posted on 2017-07-27, 00:00 authored by Sajjad Ghobadi, Lale Işıkel Şanlı, Rokhsareh Bakhtiari, Selmiye Alkan GürselHerein a new fabrication method is
suggested via a paper molding
process for the preparation of graphene/cellulose/carbon fiber composite
paper to be used as the flexible electrode layers mainly for PEM fuel
cells. As a green and eco-friendly process, composite papers were
prepared at ease with no pollutant by product formation by using ionic
liquids (IL). At first, carbon fibers bound via cellulose fiber to
form a cellulose/carbon fiber composite paper by wet-laying. Then,
electrical conductivity as well as hydrophobicity of the composite
papers were improved by extraction of cellulose via an ionic liquid-assisted
phase inversion method and then graphene inserted into the structure
of ionic liquid treated composite paper by spray coating. Moreover,
by spray coating of 0.5 mg cm–2 platinum (Pt) catalyst
to the mentioned composite papers, significant improvement in their
fuel cell performances were achieved at low relative humidity (RH)
fuel cell operation conditions (RH < 50%) which increases the overall
system efficiency. The highest power density was recorded at 50% RH
as 911 mW cm–2, which was over 20% higher than the
100% RH operating conditions.