Manufacturing apparatus of gas diffusion layer

Abstract

A gas diffusion layer, a manufacturing apparatus and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The gas diffusion layer having different hydrophilic/hydrophobic structure and channel therein can be manufactured quickly and easily by using a coating mask. The gas diffusion layer is used in various fuel cells to enhance the ability of water management and to solve the problem of flooding at the cathode, the problem of water deficit at the anode, and the problem of gas transfer. The gas diffusion layer includes a gas diffusion medium having a first property and a micro porous layer having a second property. The micro porous layer is formed on one surface of the gas diffusion medium. The micro porous layer has a plurality of channel layers penetrating the gas diffusion medium. One of the first property and the second property is hydrophilic, and the other is hydrophobic.

1 . A manufacturing apparatus of a gas diffusion layer for forming a micro porous layer having a plurality of channel layers on a gas diffusion medium, comprising:
 a vacuum system, comprising:
 a vacuum chamber body, having an opening; 
 a vacuum pump, connected to the vacuum chamber body, for producing a vacuum suction in the vacuum chamber body; 
   a coating mask having a plurality of through holes therein, disposed on the opening of the vacuum chamber body; and   a heating apparatus, disposed in the coating mask, wherein after the gas diffusion medium is disposed on the coating mask, and the micro porous layer slurry is formed on the gas diffusion medium, the gas diffusion medium is fixed and the micro porous layer slurry penetrates into the gas diffusion medium under the effect of the vacuum suction, and the heating apparatus is used to remove a solution in the micro porous layer slurry, so as to form the micro porous layer having the channel layers.   
     
     
         2 . The manufacturing apparatus of the gas diffusion layer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the through holes of the coating mask are arranged regularly or irregularly. 
     
     
         3 . The manufacturing apparatus of the gas diffusion layer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cross section of the through holes for the coating mask has a shape of round, polygon, ellipse or an irregular shape. 
     
     
         4 . The manufacturing apparatus of the gas diffusion layer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the material of the coating mask comprises metal, rubber, plastic or ceramic. 
     
     
         5 . The manufacturing apparatus of the gas diffusion layer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the material of the gas diffusion medium comprises a porous material. 
     
     
         6 . The manufacturing apparatus of the gas diffusion layer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the micro porous layer slurry comprises a carbon material having a high conductivity, a dispersing agent, a solution and hydrophile/hydrophobicizer. 
     
     
         7 . The manufacturing apparatus of the gas diffusion layer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a pattern constituted by the channel layers depends upon a pattern constituted by the through holes. 
     
     
         8 . The manufacturing apparatus of the gas diffusion layer as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of screws, for fixing the coating mask on the vacuum chamber body.