Yu. G. Chirkova,z and V. I. Rostokinb
aFrumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences,
Leninskii pr. 31, Moscow, 119991 Russia
bMoscow Institute of Engineering Physics, Kashirskoe sh. 31, Moscow, 115409 Russia
Received April 7, 2008
Abstract—A fuel cell with Nafion and platinum is considered. The effect of heating of the oxygen cathode active
layer on the cathode overall characteristics (current and power density) is taken into account for the first time.
Attention is focused on calculations of Tafel plots of oxygen cathodes and also on how the active layer temperature
changes with the potential. Calculation parameters are as follows: fuel cell initial temperature, cathode active layer
thickness, gas-diffusion layer effective heat conductivity and thickness. The following conditions of cathode oper-
ation are studied: (1) heat formed in the cathode active layer is almost completely removed, no active layer heating
is observed, the active-layer temperature remains equal to that of fuel cell operation; (2) heat removal is impeded,
the heat conductivity of the gas-diffusion layer is insufficiently high to remove heat. In the latter case, the active
layer temperature may increase by several tens of degrees. A fundamental difference of Tafel plots for the catalytic
layers studied in model experiments and the cathodic active layers is demonstrated. In the latter case, the first Tafel
plot segment may extend further up to potentials of ~0.6 V.
Key words: fuel cell with Nafion and platinum, oxygen cathode, computer simulation of current generation in
cathode, cathodic active layer heating, cathodic Tafel plots
DOI: 10.1134/S1023193509090079
Pleiades Publishing home page | journal home page | top
If you have any problems with this server, contact webmaster.