Review: PEMFC Materials' Thermal Conductivity and Influence on Internal Temperature Profiles

Abstract

The polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is far from isothermal when in operation. This is well established both from experiments and from mathematical modelling. Over the last 15 years, the research field and knowledge about thermal conductivity and heat generation in the PEMFC materials has been established and developed. From first looking at through-plane thermal conductivity of only membranes and gas diffusion layers (GDL), the most recent studies include heat transport properties on non-isotropic properties, PTFE content, water content, compression, heat pipe effects, and material integration. This short review explains the knowledge development within the field of thermal conductivity of PEMFC materials and regions over the last 15 years. It also shows how this knowledge changes our understanding of internal temperature profiles in a PEMFC under operation using a 2D- continuum based thermal model.