A new evaluation method of anode/cathode used for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell

A new evaluation method of anode/cathode used for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) was developed by using membrane/electrode assembly combined with a gold wire. The gold wire was centered in the polymer electrolyte by the concurrent pressing of two Nafion sheets, gold wire and 10% Nafion solution. Using this new evaluation method, the magnitude of polarization in each side of the anode and cathode was simultaneously obtained with the I–V curve of PEMFC. The cathodic overpotential under oxygen or air and the anodic overpotential under hydrogen containing various CO contents were measured as a function of the current density. This evaluation method is more conveniently employed to analyze quantitatively the anodic and cathodic polarization of PEMFC.