Analysis of Oxygen Mass Transport across Ionomer of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Catalyst Layer

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25410253
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Device related chemistry
• Research Institution: Doshisha University
• Principal Investigator: INABA Minoru 同志社大学, 理工学部, 教授 (80243046)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 燃料電池 / 酸素還元反応 / イオン交換膜 / 酸素透過 / 微少電極 / 酸素透過速度 / 酸素溶解速度 / イオノマー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

It is important to clarify the rate-determining step of oxygen mass transport in the porous electrode of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). In this study, elementary steps of oxygen transport were analyzed using a model Pt microelectrode and the limiting current method. In the temperature (30-80 degrees C) and relative humidity (30-80%) ranges tested in this study, the oxygen dissolution rate across the gas/ionomer interface was the rate-determining step. It was shown that an improvement of the oxygen dissolution rate is needed to enable PEFCs to be operated at current densities higher than 2 A/cm2.

Free Research Field

電気化学、工業無機化学