Key Considerations for High Current Fuel Cell Catalyst Testing in an Electrochemical Half-Cell. Issue 4 (9th February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pinaud, Blaise A.; Bonakdarpour, Arman; Daniel, Lius; Sharman, Jonathan; Wilkinson, David P.
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Electrochemical Society. Volume 164:Issue 4(2017)
• Page Start: F321
• Page End: F327
• Publication Date: 2017-02-09
• Subjects: CCM -- electrochemical half-cell -- fuel cell -- gas diffusion electrode -- high current density -- MEA -- RDE; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; 541.3705
• DOI: 10.1149/2.0891704jes
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4651

Abstract

Abstract : An economical and novel half-cell approach for quick and precise measurement of oxygen reduction catalysts in various practical electrode formats, including GDE and bonded GDE/membrane layers is demonstrated. Fuel cell current densities (∼1 A/cm 2 ) were achieved with the key design considerations clearly outlined, to highlight the challenges in developing such a test platform. Constant current polarizations with IR drop measurement at each step are found to provide a simple, reproducible method of measuring catalyst performance. An optimal electrolyte concentration of 1.0 M HClO4 balances the requirement of non-limiting H + transport at high currents whilst minimizing the effect of electrolyte impurities, which reduce Pt activity. The half-cell used here can accurately provide the ORR activity of commercial products showing good agreement with measurements made in fuel cell hardware, but at a significantly lower testing cost. This half-cell approach can be used to characterize various types of GDEs and CCMs with different catalyst layers.