Characterization of water transport in PEMFC electrode using the Washburn method

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

1-1-2017

Abstract

© The Electrochemical Society. In this work, the Washburn technique was used to assess wetting properties of carbon-ionomer films (without catalyst) and membranes provided by the 3M Company using water and Fluorinert™ FC-3283 (3M Company). A method to calculate the contact angle was also proposed. The results showed that the carbon-ionomer films were hydrophobic (contact angle of 132°) but absorbed a significant amount of water mainly through the ionomer phase. On the other hand, the Fluorinert™ was perfectly wetting to the membranes and the carbon-ionomer films (contact angle close to zero) and not absorbed by the ionomer phase.

Publication Title

ECS Transactions

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