The structure of catalyst layers and cell performance in proton exchange membrane fuel cells

A catalyst layer is one of the key elements in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). Improvements in the performance of a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for PEMFC are much influenced by an electrochemically active surface area in a catalyst layer. But the relation between the structure of a catalyst layer and the cell performance has not been clarified yet. In the present study, catalyst layers with different structure and composition were fabricated, and the structural properties of catalyst layers, such as thickness and roughness, and the polarization curves were measured. The experimental results suggested that there is an optimum mass ratio of electrolyte in a catalyst layer for the cell performance, and the thickness and roughness of a catalyst layer change significantly at the optimum mass ratio.