Effect of distortions in the ideal profile of solid phase conductivity on performance efficiency of porous electrodes

The effect of distortions in the ideal profile of the solid phase conductivity chi(s)(x) on porous electrode (PE) performance efficiency has been analysed using a one-dimensional model and an overall polarization curve involving both main and side reactions. Although an ideal electrically equally accessible PE is provided only by a hyperbolic profile chi(s)(x) passing through the middle of the electrode (the point chi(s) = chi(L)), it has been shown that a noticeable improvement in performance can be obtained using a rough approximation with any monotonic function providing a decrease in conductivity in the direction from the back current supply to the front plane of the PE, including functions not necessarily passing through the point chi(s) = chi(L) in the middle of the electrode. This permits less rigid requirements for the chi(s)(x) profile reproduction accuracy and simplification of experimental data acquisition.