Improvement of the operational stability and durability of proton exchange membrane fuel cells by using a novel lignin-containing nanocellulose fiber modified carbon fiber paper

Abstract

The commercial feasibility of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) is often hindered by the insufficient durability and high cost of carbon fiber paper (CP). Here, we report a sustainable strategy for modifying phenolic resin (PR) matrices using lignin-containing nanocellulose fibers (LCNFs). High performance CP was prepared by taking advantage of the cross-linking reactivity of lignin through a simple impregnation carbonization process. The tensile strength of the optimized CP-LCNF30 has increased by 104.58%, the flexural strength has increased by 121%, and the corrosion resistance has been significantly improved. Crucially, the stratified pore structure guided by LCNFs effectively balances material transport and water management. Under the anodic humidification condition of 85 °C, the peak power density of PEMFCs assembled with CP-LCNF30 was 0.55 W cm⁻². After 4000 thermal cycles, the attenuation of the current density and power density was significantly lower than that of the unmodified sample (CP-LCNF0). This work offers a novel, biomass-derived approach to fabricating durable and cost-effective gas diffusion layers, advancing the practical deployment of PEMFCs.