The gas diffusion layer (GDL) is an important component in the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), and the main function of GDL is to transfer water and gas. This paper explores the effect of the gradient hydrophobicity of GDL on the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The gradient GDL design uses two microporous layers (MPL). First, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) : carbon black in MPL near the carbon paper side was fixed at 3 : 7, and then the content of PTFE : carbon black in MPL near the catalyst layer (CL) was set to 3 : 7, 2 : 8 and 1 : 9. Second, the fixed PTFE : carbon black in MPL near the carbon paper side was 2 : 8, and the PTFE : carbon black in MPL near CL was 2 : 8 and 1 : 9. We found that, when near the carbon paper side and PTFE : carbon black = 3 : 7, GDL can obtain good cell performance through gradient hydrophobic treatment. Moreover, when near the carbon paper side and PTFE : carbon black = 2 : 8, the cell performance did not change much after GDL gradient hydrophobic treatment. We found that when GDL is subjected to a gradient hydrophobic treatment, the content of PTFE and carbon black must be rationally allocated to obtain good water management capabilities.
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