Open AccessAnalysis of proton and electron transport impedance of a PEM fuel cell in H 2 /N 2 regime
Author(s) -
Kulikovsky Andrei
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
electrochemical science advances
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2698-5977
DOI - 10.1002/elsa.202000023
Subject(s) - cathode , electrical impedance , proton , dielectric spectroscopy , electron , conductivity , proton exchange membrane fuel cell , materials science , analytical chemistry (journal) , range (aeronautics) , electron transport chain , atomic physics , chemistry , electrochemistry , catalysis , physics , electrode , composite material , nuclear physics , biochemistry , quantum mechanics , chromatography
Analytical expressions for impedance of proton and electron transport in the cathode catalyst layer of a PEM fuel cell operating in H2 /N2 regime are derived. In the high–frequency range, the dependence of imaginary part of impedance on 1 / ωis a straight line with the slope depending on the cathode catalyst layer (CCL) proton and electron conductivity. The characteristic frequencies of proton f p and electron f e transport associated with the double layer charging are close to each other (denoted below as f p e ). The frequency f p ein the cathodes of various type may differ by three orders of magnitude. DRT spectrum of CCL impedance in H 2 /N 2 regime shows two peaks located at the frequencies f p eand f e ∗ . The second frequency f e ∗ of electron transport in the CCL is about four times higher than f p e . Analytical results can be used for simultaneous measurement of proton and electron conductivity of PEMFC cathodes using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.