Transient techniques for investigating mass-transport limitations in gas diffusion electrodes - II. Experimental characterization of the PEFC cathode

The current-interrupt technique and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were employed in order to study the behavior of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) cathode containing 30 wt % Nafion and 70 wt % Pt/C. The steady-state polarization curves were also recorded. The experimental results were analyzed with help of the mathematical models developed in Part I of this paper. The effect of a varying oxygen pressure and humidity on the dynamic response of the cathode was investigated. The double-layer capacitance, Tafel slope, oxygen solubility, a group containing the effective O-2 diffusion coefficient and agglomerate size, and finally, the effective proton conductivity in the cathode were obtained. The parameter values were reasonable and attest the robustness of the agglomerate model for describing the PEFC cathode. At low humidity, a second, low-frequency loop was observed that was attributed to the membrane behavior. (C) 2003 The Electrochemical Society.