Computational analysis of polarizations in membrane-electrode-assembly for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

The effects of platinum loadings and thickness of catalyst layer on the overall polarization of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) were investigated based on flooded agglomerate model. To obtain accurately simulated data on anode hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR), the well-known dual-pathway kinetic model was taken into account. The presented model was validated with experimental data taken from the literatures. Results of the investigations were summarized as follows: (i) reduction of anode catalyst loadings maintains overall polarization due to remarkably small increase of anode overpotentials and (ii) reduction of anode catalyst layer (ACL) thickness enhances anode performance, even though platinum loadings were decreased. Consequently, it was predicted that more amounts of platinum loaded on ACL were reducible for cost retrenchment.