Experimental Study on the Performance of DMFC Using Novel Composite Materials of Polypyrrole-Coated Polypropylene as BPs

Abstract:

Polypropylene/three-carbon-filler composite bipolar plates (BPs) of direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) were fabricated by an injection molding. The composite materials were made of polypropylene (PP), carbon black, carbon fiber and graphite. Gas flow channel surfaces on the BPs were subsequently modified by polypyrrole (PPy) using a coating technique in order to improve surface electrical conductivity. This research is a feasibility study to use PPy-coated PP composite as BPs in a DMFC. The surface electrical resistance and performance in a fuel cell containing the composite BPs under DMFC operating conditions were evaluated against conventional graphite BPs. The surface resistance values of PPy-coated PP composites decreased around six orders of magnitude, compared with those values of PP composites. According to the performance results, PPy-coated composite BPs can be used in DMFC if the surface adhesion between a PPy layer and the BP surface was further improved.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volume 757)
• Pages: 141-145
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.757.141
• Online since: October 2017
• Authors: Rungsima Yeetsorn*, Chaiwat Prapainainar, Michael W. Fowler, Yaowaret Maiket
• Keywords: Composite Bipolar Plates, Direct Methanol Fuel Cell, Fuel Cell Performance, Plasma Technique, Polypropylene Composites, Polypyrrole

References

[1] E. Akbari, Z. Buntat, A. Nikoukar, A. Kheirandish, M. Khaledian, A. Afroozeh, Sensor application in Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFCs), Renew Sust Energ Rev. 60 (2016) 1125-1139.

DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2016.02.001

[2] O. Barbera, A. Stassi, D. Sebastian, J.L. Bonde, G. Giacoppo, C. D'Urso, V. Baglio, A.S. AricÒ, Simple and functional direct methanol fuel cell stack designs for application in portable and auxiliary power units, Int J Hydrogen Energ. 41, 28 (2016).

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.05.135

[3] R. Yeetsorn, M.W. Fowler, C. Tzoganakis, Effect of injection flow on conductive network in PP-carbon-filler composite bipolar plates, KMUTNB Int J Appl Sci Technol. 10, 1 (2017) 31-42.

DOI: 10.14416/j.ijast.2017.02.002

[4] D.V. Brezoi, Polypyrrole films prepared by chemical oxidation of pyrrole in aqueous FeCl3 solution, J Sci Arts. year 10, 1, 12 (2010) 53-58.

[5] N. Gomathai and N. Sudersan, Surface modification of polypropylene using argon plasma: Statistical optimization of the process variable, Appl Surf Sci. 255 (2009) 7590-7600.

DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2009.04.034

[6] E.A. Cho, U. -S. Jeon, H.Y. Ha, S. -A. Hong, I. -H. Oh, Characteristics of composite bipolar plates for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, J Power Sources. 125 (2004) 178-182.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2003.08.039

[7] S. Almheiri and H. Liu, Direct measurement of methanol crossover fluxes under land and channel in direct methanol fuel cells, Int J Hydrogen Energ. 40 (2015) 10969-10978.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2015.06.126

[8] A. Hacquard, Improving and understanding direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) performance, master degree thesis, Chemical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, May (2005).

[9] M. Ercelika, A. Ozdenb, Y. Devrimc, C. O. Colpan, Investigation of Nafion based composite membranes on the performance of DMFCs, Int J Hydrogen Energ. 40, 4 (2016) 2658-2668.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.06.215

[10] P. Kumar, K. Dutta, S. Das and P. P. Kundu, An overview of unsolved deficiencies of direct methanol fuel cell technology: factors and parameters affecting its widespread use, Int. J. Energy Res. 38, 11 (2014) 1367-1390.

DOI: 10.1002/er.3163

[11] A.A. Kulikovsky, The effect of non–uniform aging of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell onthe polarization curve: A modeling study, Electrochim Acta 123 (2014) 542-550.

DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2014.01.025