A method for optimizing distributions of Nafion and Pt in cathode catalyst layers of PEM fuel cells

• Published in: Electrochimica acta 2005-05, Vol.50 (16), p.3347-3358
• Main Authors: Song, Datong, Wang, Qianpu, Liu, Zhongsheng, Eikerling, Micheal, Xie, Zhong, Navessin, Titichai, Holdcroft, Steven
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Catalyst layer; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Fuel cells; Nafion content distribution; PEM fuel cell; Performance optimization; Pt loading distribution
• ISSN: 0013-4686; 1873-3859
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2004.12.008

Optimal distributions of Nafion content and Pt loading across the entire thickness of cathode catalyst layers of polymer electrode membrane (PEM) fuel cells are obtained by maximizing the cell current density at a given potential. When optimization is performed with either the Nafion content or Pt loading as the single variable, it is found that the optimal distribution is a linearly increasing function from the gas diffusion layer side to the membrane side; when optimization is treated as a two-variable problem, i.e. comprising of both Nafion content distribution and Pt loading distribution, the optimal distribution of Nafion content is still a linearly increasing function but the optimal distribution of Pt loading is a convex increasing function.