Phase-contrast X-ray imaging of the gas diffusion layer of fuel cells.
The understanding of and in situ observation of the transport and distribution of water in carbon-paper gas diffusion layers (GDLs) using non-destructive imaging techniques is critical for achieving high performance in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). To investigate the behavior of water in GDLs of PEFCs, phase-contrast X-ray imaging via X-ray interferometric imaging (XII) and diffraction-enhanced imaging (DEI) were performed using 35 keV X-rays. The XII technique is useful for the radiographic imaging of GDLs and in situ observations of water evolution processes in operating PEFCs. DEI provides a way for tomographic imaging of GDLs in PEFCs. Because high-energy X-rays are applicable to the imaging of both carbon papers and heavy materials, which make up PEFCs, phase-contrast X-ray imaging techniques have proven to be valuable for investigation of GDLs.
Research Institute of Instrumentation Frontier, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central 5, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba 305-8565, Japan. s.takeya@aist.go.jp
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Takeya
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Yoneyama
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Miyamoto
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Gotoh
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Ueda
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Hyodo
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Takeda