New porous carbon materials as gas diffusion layer for polymer electrolyte fuel cells

Abstract

New porous carbon materials are proposed in which washi, the Japanese paper as well as cotton and other cellulose materials are carbonized by new method, retaining their original fibrous structures. Porous carbon sheets thus fabricated are used as gas diffusion layer in fuel cells. Fuel cell testing is conducted and the optimum conditions of fabrication are investigated. Low cost and superior characteristics of new carbon structure are demonstrated based on morphological study and fuel cell polarization data.