Chris J. Lee, Yi-Hao Pai, Fuh-Sheng Shieu

Ultrahydrophobic and Microporous Electrodes Fabricated by Fluorocarbon Plasma Etching of Carbon Fiber

Journal of the Electrochemical Society 156 (2009) B923-B926

The ultrahydrophobic, conductive, and porous properties of microporous electrodes (MPEs) are successfully deposited by a reactive ion etcher with the CHF(3) plasma treatment. The electrodes fabricated with CHF(3) plasma exhibit a good water-repellent behavior due to hydrophobic groups such as -CF(2) and -CF(3) groups and the ultrahydrophobic properties are achieved when the water contact angle is greater than 130 degrees. The proton exchange membrane fuel cell performance, related to surface properties of Teflon-like MPEs, is studied by fuel cell system and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The F/(C, H, S) ratio of fluorine-based precursor is the main parameter to adjust the conductivity, porosity, and ultrahydrophobicity of the electrodes. When the electrodes are fabricated with a F/(C, H, S) ratio of fluorine-based precursor of 1.5, it has a much more stable output density, with an optimal power output of 350 mW/cm(2) corresponding to a current density of 800 mA/cm(2), than that fabricated with a F/(C, H, S) ratio of fluorine-based precursor of 4 during the long-duration test.

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