Analysis of Major Parameters in Catalyst Layer Structure Affecting on PEFC Performance

Because electron, proton, and oxygen are necessary for the cathode reaction in polymer electrolyte fuel cell, achieving the optimum structure of electrode catalyst layer and the efficient transport of the reactants is significantly effective to reduce the usage of Pt catalyst. In this study, we presented evaluation equations to investigate the relationship between the structure of cathode catalyst layer and the cell performance. The evaluation equations are based on the analysis using the three-phase boundary model by the authors, and can estimate the effects of cathode catalyst layer structures on the cell performance easily. This paper discusses optimum structure of the catalyst layer using these evaluation equations. Furthermore, the dominant parameter of the catalyst layer structure such as the amount of polymer electrolyte and the oxygen solubility in the polymer was confirmed experimentally.