The Role of Fluorinated Polymers in the Water Management of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells: A Review

As the hydrogen market is projected to grow in next decades, development of more efficient and better-performing polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) certainly needed. Water management one main issues faced by these devices strictly related employment fluorinated materials gas diffusion medium (GDM). Fluorine-based polymers are added as hydrophobic agents for layers (GDL) or ink composition microporous (MPL), with goal reducing risk dehydration cell flooding. In this review, state art presented. The most common ones polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) ethylene propylene (FEP), however, other compounds such PFA, PVDF, PFPE, CF4 have been studied reported. effects on device performances analyzed described. Particular attention dedicated influence content variation component properties, namely conductivity, durability, hydrophobicity, porosity, PEMFC behavior at different current densities under multiple operating conditions.