Improvement of carbon paper performance by adding carbon nanofibers to carbon paper and impregnation

Carbon paper, as a key component in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), had attracted much attention due to its corrosion resistance, electrical conductivity and mechanical strength as well as gas permeability. The incorporation of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) into carbon paper can further enhance its electrical conductivity and other properties. Herein, prepared carbon paper precursors (CPP) via wet papermaking and optimized the process through resin impregnation and hot pressing. The addition of CNFs, particularly at 10 %, significantly improved electrical conductivity and mechanical properties, reducing resistivity by 23.9 % and maximizing tensile strength of 36.97 N·m/g. The sequence of CNFs application and resin impregnation, specifically the spray-after-impregnation (S-I) method, was crucial for achieving these enhancements. Our findings offer a strategy for fabricating high-performance carbon paper, crucial for PEMFC efficiency and durability.