As one of the core materials for hydrogen fuel cells, carbon paper and gas diffusion layer (GDL) are being rapidly localized by many Chinese enterprises.
On March 16, 2023, SHTJ Hydrogen Energy Materials Technology Corporation, a leading manufacturer of carbon paper and gas diffusion layers in China, issued an announcement:
The carbon paper and GDL products developed by the company have been commercially produced.
In terms of production capacity, the overall design production capacity of the company is currently 400,000 meters 2/ In, the current carbon paper production capacity is 300,000 m 2/ Annual GDL production capacity: 150,000 m 2/ Year. "It is expected to achieve a carbon paper production capacity of 400,000 m by the end of this year 2/ Annual GDL production capacity: 300,000 m 2/ "Year."
Previously, the company had provided samples to multiple hydrogen fuel cell manufacturers in China and successfully passed tests. Currently, it has received orders of over 120,000 square meters.
The gas diffusion layer (GDL) can play an important role in supporting the catalytic layer, collecting current, conducting gas, and discharging reaction product water in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Research shows that carbon paper is a GDL substrate material, and it is estimated that each stack requires about 30 square meters of carbon paper.
From the perspective of the development of China's carbon paper industry, China's domestic carbon paper has gradually entered the stage of commercial mass production and application from the laboratory stage. Among them, China ZGZY Carbon Paper Technology Research Institute, HNJB, SHJZ, SHHS Electric and other enterprises have successively completed small batch production.
"Internationally, carbon paper, the core material of the high-end gas diffusion layer, is monopolized overseas, with industry leaders mainly including three enterprises, namely, Germany Xigli, the United States Avcard, and Japan Toray. However, the industrialization of carbon paper/carbon cloth in China is relatively slow, and there is an urgent need for product development and import substitution."