[ fuel cells ]
China hydrogen fuel cell technology update
As a huge and rapidly expanding market for proton exchange membrane ( PEM ) fuel cells , China is well positioned to help attain the global goal of fuel cell cost reduction by means of mass production . Hydrogen Tech World attended a local fuel cell summit to learn about the latest technological developments and trends in hydrogen fuel cells .
By Jude Jiang , Hydrogen Tech World
China ’ s interest in hydrogen development has been deeply connected with hydrogen applications in the transport sector . By the end of 2020 , the country achieved a global first in commercial deployment of fuel cell trucks and buses . Based on Hydrogen Tech World ( HTW ) research , the majority of Chinese hydrogen-themed industry events have focused on fuel cell applications in transport and on developments in fuel cell technologies . To drive progress and innovation in these areas , the country is fostering research through government funding . So , what are the most notable recent developments in this field ? fibre paper is the main material of construction for GDLs and as such has been a technological barrier hampering China ’ s localised production .
In the absence of a domestic production base for carbon fibre paper , Chinese GDL manufacturers had been reliant on imports from industry leading suppliers such as Japan ’ s Toray and Germany ’ s SGL . Two years ago , however , the domestic sector made a major step towards self-reliance , with G-Hydrogen™ becoming the first Chinese company to start mass producing GDLs and carbon fibre paper .
Gas diffusion layer
The bipolar plate and the membrane electrode assembly ( MEA ) are two of the most critical components in PEM fuel cells , determining to a large degree the performance of the fuel cell stack . Although only a few domestic companies are currently capable of carrying out comprehensive localised production of core components of the integrated MEA , including the catalyst , PEM and gas diffusion layer , the government-supported fuel cell industry is poised to accelerate the commercialization of domestically manufactured products .
As a crucial component of the MEA , the gas diffusion layer ( GDL ) is responsible for the gas and water transport in PEM fuel cells . Superior GDL materials exhibit high mechanical strength , high conductivity , and high gas permeability . Carbon
A representative of G-Hydrogen™ told HTW that , following the launch of a roll-to-roll GDL production line with an annual output of 100,000 square meters in southern China , the company recently started up a fully automated plant in northern China , where carbon fibre paper up to 1,000 meters in length can be manufactured . Both plants produce a complete array of product categories from carbon fibre paper to carbon paper and GDLs .
The company ’ s breakthrough progress stems from the innovation in surface treatment of carbon-cloth GDL with advanced hydrophobic agents made from polytetrafluoroethylene ( PTFE ) and fluorinated ethylene-propylene , in which increased sensitivity improves the fuel cell performance , the company representative said . To date , G-hydrogen has supplied GDL-S-16 ,
Hydrogen Tech World | Issue 7 | December 2022 39