A Lightweight Solid Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell with Stack Power Density of 3kW/lb (7 kW/kg)

Abstract
The performances of solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells were evaluated by recording their half/single cell potential vs. current density data. A schematic of the single cell assembly is shown. Half and single cell potential vs. current density plots for a single cell using platinum-sputtered electrodes and Dow membrane are also show. This data represents the best performance (0.62 V at 2 A/sq. cm) attained in single cells with low platinum loading electrodes. The performance of this cell is compared with the performances of single cells using Nafion membranes of two different thicknesses. It shows that the cell potential vs. current density plots almost overlap in the low current density region (say up to 50 mV). This means that the action-controlled behaviour is unaffected by the characteristics of the membrane (Dow vs. Nafion, Nafion thick vs. thin). This result can be interpreted on the basis that the electrochemical reaction occurs to a large extent within the pores on the surfaces of the electrodes which are coated with Nafion in all the single cells. With increasing current density, the role of the membrane (type, thickness) is dominant and consequently the slopes of the linear region are different. (rh)

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: