Investigation of Mass-Transport Limitations in the Solid Polymer Fuel Cell Cathode

In this work, we investigated the kinetics and mass-transport limitations of the oxygen reduction reaction in the solid polymer fuel cell. The information obtained from electrochemical experiments and electrode characterization was analyzed with an agglomerate model presented in Part I of this paper. The electrochemical behavior of the cathode was studied by polarizing vs. a hydrogen reference electrode at a low sweep rate. For each potential, the iR-drop was measured with the current-interrupt technique. The cathode structure was investigated by porosimetry and electron microscopy techniques. The effects on the cathode polarization curves of the active layer thickness, oxygen partial pressure, and humidity of the oxygen gas were investigated. On the basis of the model results, conclusions could be drawn regarding the nature of mass-transport limitations because of the characteristic shape of the experimental polarization curves. The simulated curves were fitted to the experimental ones to give the kinetic and mass-transport parameters. Finally, we discuss the validity of the model with regard to the values obtained for the transport and structural parameters. © 2002 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.