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Mesoscopic modeling of transport resistances in a polymer-electrolyte fuel-cell catalyst layer: Analysis of hydrogen limiting currents

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  • Mu, Yu-Tong
  • Weber, Adam Z.
  • Gu, Zhao-Lin
  • Tao, Wen-Quan

Abstract

Understanding transport resistances in a polymer-electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) catalyst layer (CL) is essential to mitigate the unexpected voltage loss when using low loadings of precious metals. In this paper, we explore through mesoscopic modeling the quantification analyses of the transport resistances in CL as derived using hydrogen-pump limiting current. Numerical treatments on the conjugated interfacial conditions at interfaces of ionomer/pore and Pt/ionomer are proposed to describe the mesoscopic transport processes of hydrogen and proton. Characterizations of the reconstructed microstructure of CL are performed. Parameter analyses on the influences of the critical transport properties such as the permeation coefficient and the dissolution and adsorption reaction rates at the surfaces of ionomer/pore and Pt/ionomer on the local transport resistance are presented. It is found that the local transport resistance is mainly originated from the diffusion resistance of the ionomer thin-film, which is more resistive than its bulk analogue with its permeation coefficient fitted to be 5.9% of the bulk one. The interfacial transport resistances and the diffusion resistance are coupled. The local transport resistance increases with I/C ratio due to thicker ionomer coated on the particles. Higher Pt/C ratio and bare carbon fraction lead to higher local transport resistance since the ionomer loading relative to Pt roughness factor decreases. The local transport resistance decreases with the porosity. The contribution of pores to the CL resistance, which decreases with the porosity, is comparatively small at low loadings.

Suggested Citation

  • Mu, Yu-Tong & Weber, Adam Z. & Gu, Zhao-Lin & Tao, Wen-Quan, 2019. "Mesoscopic modeling of transport resistances in a polymer-electrolyte fuel-cell catalyst layer: Analysis of hydrogen limiting currents," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:255:y:2019:i:c:s030626191931582x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.113895
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Donglei Yang & Nitul Kakati & Mrittunjoy Sarker & Felipe Mojica & Po-Ya Abel Chuang, 2024. "The Formation–Structure–Functionality Relationship of Catalyst Layers in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-14, April.
    2. Li, Bing & Wan, Kechuang & Xie, Meng & Chu, Tiankuo & Wang, Xiaolei & Li, Xiang & Yang, Daijun & Ming, Pingwen & Zhang, Cunman, 2022. "Durability degradation mechanism and consistency analysis for proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 314(C).
    3. Saeidfar, Asal & Yesilyurt, Serhat, 2023. "Numerical investigation of the effects of catalyst layer composition and channel to rib width ratios for low platinum loaded PEMFCs," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 339(C).
    4. Rolando Pedicini & Marcello Romagnoli & Paolo E. Santangelo, 2023. "A Critical Review of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Systems for Automotive Applications: Components, Materials, and Comparative Assessment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-28, March.
    5. He, Pu & Mu, Yu-Tong & Park, Jae Wan & Tao, Wen-Quan, 2020. "Modeling of the effects of cathode catalyst layer design parameters on performance of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 277(C).
    6. Akbar, Ali & Um, Sukkee, 2022. "Influence of external clamping pressure on nanoscopic mechanical deformation and catalyst utilization of quaternion PtC catalyst layers for PEMFCs," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 194(C), pages 195-210.
    7. Zhang, Ruiyuan & Min, Ting & Chen, Li & Li, Hailong & Yan, Jinyue & Tao, Wen-Quan, 2022. "Pore-scale study of effects of relative humidity on reactive transport processes in catalyst layers in PEMFC," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 323(C).

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