Journal Highlight: Raman spectroscopic mapping of the carbon and PTFE distribution in gas diffusion layers

Raman spectroscopic mapping of the carbon and PTFE distribution in gas diffusion layers

Fuel Cells, 2011, 11, 248-254
A. J. Mendoza, M. A. Hickner, J. Morgan, K. Rutter, C. Legzdins

Abstract: Raman microspectroscopy was used to gather spatially resolved chemical information on the carbon and poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) distribution of fuel cell gas diffusion layers (GDL). GDLs with varying PTFE content were imaged over areas of 1,000 µm × 1,000 µm and it was found that the distribution of concentrated PTFE regions on the surface of the GDLs and morphology of the carbon fibre paper was readily observed. Spectroscopic measurements with point-by-point resolutions varying between 10 and 500 μm were performed on samples having 1.8-44 wt.% PTFE before and after the PTFE was sintered. The average PTFE signal detected on the surface of the GDLs increased monotonically for both unsintered and sintered GDLs with increasing bulk PTFE loading. The unsintered GDLs had higher PTFE signals on their surface compared to sintered GDLs and showed more concentrated PTFE regions in the mapping experiments.

• This paper is free to view to spectroscopyNOW registered users until the end of June 2011. After this time it will be available via Wiley's Pay-Per-View service for US$35.
• Click here to access the abstract of this paper. From here you can progress to read the full paper. 
• Click here for more details about Fuel Cells