Hiroshi Iden

Analysis of Proton Transport in Pseudo Catalyst Layers: Influence of Ionomer Content

Introduction A polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) is a promising primary power source and expected for automotive use. However, there are challenges still remaining for commercialization of fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) such as efficiency, durability, sub-zero startup, and cost reduction, etc. The greatest challenge of them is the cost reduction from the industrial point of view. Based on the cost reduction, an operation in low humidity and high current density is desirable. However, increase of IR loss is concerned in such condition. Especially, the decrease of proton conductivity in the catalyst layer could cause the decrease of the catalyst utilization. Therefore, it is important to understand proton transport phenomena in the catalyst layers in detail. In this study, we focused on proton the transport phenomena in the catalyst layers. We established an analysis technique using a pseudo catalyst layer (PCL) to understand proton transport phenomena in the layer. In this report, the influence of ionomer content on proton transport phenomena was examined with the analysis technique.