Applied Chemistry for Engineering (공업화학)

The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry (한국공업화학회)
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Study on the Optimization of Superhydrophobic Coating for the Durability of Gas Diffusion Layer in Alkaline Fuel Cells

알카라인 연료전지 가스확산층 내구성 향상을 위한 초발수 코팅 최적화 연구

  • Kim, Soong Yeon (Plant Engineering Center, Institute for Advanced Engineering) ;
  • Seo, Minhye (Plant Engineering Center, Institute for Advanced Engineering) ;
  • Uhm, Sunghyun (Plant Engineering Center, Institute for Advanced Engineering)
  • 김숭연 (고등기술연구원 플랜트엔지니어링센터) ;
  • 서민혜 (고등기술연구원 플랜트엔지니어링센터) ;
  • 엄성현 (고등기술연구원 플랜트엔지니어링센터)
  • Received : 2017.09.07
  • Accepted : 2017.10.18
  • Published : 2017.12.10
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Abstract

Optimization study was carried out to improve the durability of the gas diffusion layer (GDL) in alkaline fuel cell cathode by the use of highly stable PDMS superhydrophobic coating. Two different commercial GDLs were selected as substrates. Coating temperature and viscosity of PDMS were controlled for the stability of structure in microporous layer of GDL as well as uniform coating according to thermal characteristics of GDL. Regardless of PDMS viscosity, highly stable superhydrophobicities were obtained with both GDLs at $200^{\circ}C$. After the accelerated test, however, 28BC GDL coated with 1000 CS PDMS showed the best durability with the lowest loss of superhydrophobicity.

본 연구에서는 알카라인 연료전지 환원극 가스확산층에 내열화학성이 우수한 초발수 성능을 부여하기 위하여 PDMS 코팅 공정을 최적화하였다. 성격이 상이한 두 개의 상용 가스확산층을 선택하였으며, 소재의 열적 안정성을 검토하여 코팅 온도를 최적화하고, PDMS 점도를 제어하여 코팅 균일성을 확보하고자 하였다. PDMS 전구체의 점도와 관계없이 $200^{\circ}C$ 부근에서 코팅하게 되면 모든 확산층 표면에서 높은 초발수 성능을 나타내었다. 가혹실험 조건에서 초발수 성능변화를 측정한 결과 1000 CS PDMS를 이용하여 28BC 가스확산층에 코팅한 경우가 가장 높은 내구성을 나타내었다.

Keywords

References

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