Numerical analysis on transport properties of self-humidifying dual catalyst layer via 3-D reconstruction technique

Developing a fuel cell model with fundamental structural properties such as distribution of pore size, geometrical network of individual phase, and volume-specific interfacial area are critical in evaluating the accurate cell performance. Therefore, herein, by Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscopy (FIB-SEM) tomography, three-dimensional (3-D) microstructure of CLs is reconstructed from two real-time samples: (i) High tortuosity humidifying catalyst layer (HTH CL) and (ii) standard catalyst layer. From the reconstructed microstructure, water imbibition behavior at different levels of capillary pressure is simulated and the effective transport properties such as gas permeability, gas diffusivity, surface area and water permeability are derived as well. By coupling the effective structural and transport properties, a 2D model is developed to predict the performances of the two CLs, at relative humidity (RH) levels of 20% and 100%. Since the effective transport properties are derived from real-time samples, this 2D model is expected to have a greater accuracy in predicting the fuel cell performance. Finally, the mechanism of self-humidifying MEA at lower and higher RH conditions (20% RH and 100% RH) is demonstrated as a function of liquid water saturation in the cathode CL and water dry-out in the anode CL.