Enhancing the Comprehensive Performance of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells through a Novel Aramid Nanofiber/Cellulose Nanofibers Grafted with Methyl Methacrylate-Modified Carbon Paper

作者：Bin Wen, Ruyin Ma, Jianbin Chen, Zhou Sha, Jiahao Feizheng, Daliang Guo, Linxin Zhong, Qianyu Sun, Yinchao Xu, Ziyang Chang, Chengliang Duan, Jing Li, Xin Tong · 发表于：ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering · 年份：2026 · DOI：10.1021/acssuschemeng.5c10511 · 被引用次数：5 · 研究领域：Fuel Cells and Related Materials、Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion、Advanced battery technologies research

As the critical gas diffusion layer in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), carbon paper (CP) governs the charge transfer, mechanical integrity, and gas/water transport. However, conventional CP struggles to simultaneously optimize permeability, strength, and conductivity, hindered by structural defects from resin expansion and weakened fiber-resin bonds during fabrication. To overcome this, a novel synergistic modifier: aramid nanofibers (ANF) and cellulose nanofibers grafted with methyl methacrylate (CNFM) within the phenolic resin (PF) were used to prepare CP. Investigating ANF:CNFM ratios revealed enhanced PF dispersion stability and modified thermochemical properties. The modified CP exhibited a tunable surface morphology, mechanical strength, in-plane resistivity, and pore characteristics, peaking at ANF:CNFM (3:1). Crucially, this modification inhibited PF methylene bridge fracture, increased polycondensation sites, and fostered a more ordered carbon matrix (reduced I D /I G: 2.12 vs 2.16 unmodified). Assembled PEMFCs with optimized ANF:CNFM (3:1) modified CP achieved a peak power density of 1.34 W·cm –2 (2 N·m, 60 °C anode humidification), surpassing commercial CP by 15.51% (1.16 W·cm –2 ). Lower mass transport impedance, confirmed by EIS, underscores the superior gas–liquid transport enabled by a tailored pore structure and enhanced mechanical strength, advancing high-performance PEMFCs design.