A Review of the Application of CNTs in PEM Fuel Cells

Abstract

Fuel cells are an important source of renewable energy technology and currently the subject of much research. Hydrogen gas, which is the main fuel source in fuel cells, is relatively easily available, and the exhaust does not consist of greenhouse gases, unlike fossil fuel-based power sources. Some of the challenges persisting in fuel cell technology are the cost of the fuel cell due to factors such as platinum catalyst loading and water management. This study reviews the use of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in fuel cell applications. CNTs have a large number of superior properties, including electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, mechanical strength, and ability to support catalysts by providing an increased surface area. Carbon nanotubes offer great promise for overcoming the problems of existing fuel cells. However, they still pose challenges of functionalization on components of the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), namely the membrane electrode assembly (MEA), the gas diffusion layer (GDL), and the bipolar plates. This paper discusses various experimental techniques that have achieved success in this functionalization process. Application of CNTs in fuel cells is expected to improve fuel cell performance and efficiency and bring down the cost by reducing platinum (Pt) catalyst loading

Keywords:

• Carbon nanotubes
• Fuel cells
• Proton exchange membrane
• Gas diffusion layers
• Membrane electrode assembly

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the DGIST R&D Program of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology of Korea (13-BD-01).