Calculating a Characteristic Bulk Current Density in the Cathode of a Hydrogen-Oxygen Fuel Cell with a Solid Polymer Electrolyte

The magnitude of currents of electrodes in hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells of all types is shown to be fully determined by values of the effective coefficient of gas diffusion, the effective coefficient of ionic conduction, and the characteristic bulk current density. The characteristic bulk current density is estimated in two versions for cathodes with Nafion: the catalyst is distributed in the bulk of substrate grains or at their external surface. The currents commensurate with those observed in experiments are given only by the second version. Means of computer-aided simulation are used to imitate the formation of fractal films composed of the catalyst particles on the surface substrate grains. The simulation means made it possible to link the magnitude of the specific surface area of platinum particles with its weight content in substrate grains. Electrochemical characteristics of the cathode with Nafion-the potential dependence of the optimum magnitude of the overall current and the thicknesses of the active layer and the weight of platinum in it, as well as the magnitudes of the optimum current generated by a unit weight of platinum—are calculated. A notion of “ norm” is introduced for the characteristic bulk current density of the cathode. 1 × 10−3 A cm−3 is the electrochemical-process intensity, which the technology of preparation of active layers of cathodes can provide at this stage in the development of fuel cells with a solid polymer electrolyte.