Catalytic graphitization of boron on the fabrication of high-performance carbon papers for gas diffusion layers in PEMFCs

Abstract Boron was introduced into carbon papers (CPs) to catalyze their graphitization in this paper. The results showed the graphitization of CPs was moved from 2400 °C to 2100 °C. At 2100 °C, boron substituted carbon atoms in the hexagonal carbon lattices to form a solid solution, and the catalytic mechanism was dissolution and precipitation. CPs with excellent electrical conductivity and good permeability were prepared at lower temperature. Thus, the boron-doping method provides a new way to prepare high performance CPs at lower costs.