%0 Journal Article
%A Zhang, Yufan
%A Agravante, Gerard
%A Kadyk, Thomas
%A Eikerling, Michael
%T Modeling water phenomena in the cathode side of polymer electrolyte fuel cells
%J Electrochimica acta
%V 452
%@ 0013-4686
%C New York, NY [u.a.]
%I Elsevier
%M FZJ-2023-03817
%P 142228
%D 2023
%X Water exerts a crucial influence on the performance of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell as both “catalyst activating agent” and “oxygen blocker”. Therefore, fine-tuningthe water distribution is imperative for high performance. In this work, we present a water balance model to calculate the distribution of liquid water in cathodecatalyst layer and diffusion media. The model incorporates the influence of the local liquid water saturation on the effective transport properties. Liquid watersaturation is both a composition variable determining the effective properties and a variable that depends on the solution of the transport equations that use theeffective properties. The model reveals the formation of a thin water layer in the diffusion medium adjacent to the catalyst layer at high current density. Thisinterfacial water layer strongly impedes oxygen transport and reduces the oxygen concentration in the catalyst layer, which causes a drastic increase in the voltageloss at high current density that drastically reduces the cell performance. We elucidate the origin of the water layer, present parametric studies of this effect, andpropose mitigation strategies. The fundamental understanding gained will aid the development of membrane electrode assemblies with tailored pore networkproperties to achieve vital improvements in performance.
%F PUB:(DE-HGF)16
%9 Journal Article
%U <Go to ISI:>//WOS:000972486700001
%R 10.1016/j.electacta.2023.142228
%U https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/1016833