Progress and perspectives on gas diffusion layers for proton exchange membrane fuel cells with high power density: from structural engineering to component integration

Abstract

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are at the forefront of sustainable energy technologies, offering clean and efficient energy conversion powered by renewable sources. The gas diffusion layer (GDL), an important component of PEMFCs, plays a pivotal role in facilitating gas and water transport, electron conduction, and thermal management between the catalyst layer (CL) and the bipolar plate. The discharge performance and power density of PEMFCs are significantly affected by the properties of the GDL. In this perspective, we focus on strategies for optimizing the bulk structure of the GDL, specifically engineering pore architecture and wettability. Meanwhile, from the aspect of relationships between the GDL and other components, we highlight the influence of the GDL surface structure on the CL|GDL interface and summarize the progress in integrated GDL and flow field (integrated GDL|FF) designs. These advancements promote efficient mass transport and enhance the overall performance of PEMFCs. Moving forward, we anticipate that GDL advancements will evolve synergistically with next-generation membrane electrode assemblies, ultimately enabling a new class of highly integrated PEMFC stacks.