Pore-scale analysis of structural properties and transfer characteristics of microporous layers in proton exchange membrane fuel cells

In this paper, the lattice Boltzmann method is employed to predict the gas-phase transport behavior of 3D microporous layers. Preliminary statistical characterization and stochastic reconstruction methods are established to generate 3D microstructural models of microporous layers with stochastic features of different carbon particle diameters and overlap degrees. These models can more accurately simulate the real material structure and thus improve prediction accuracy. Additionally, the permeability and pore size distribution of the generated microstructure of the microporous layer were comprehensively evaluated. Previous correlations for predicting permeability of porous media struggle to accurately describe the permeability of MPLs with complex structural features. It is expected that this will provide strong support for the design and application of fuel cells and help to improve their efficiency and stability.