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Principle of the gas diffusion electrode. The principle of gas diffusion is illustrated in this diagram. The so-called gas distribution layer is located in the middle of the electrode. With only a small gas pressure, the electrolyte is displaced from this pore system. A small flow resistance ensures that the gas can freely flow inside the ...
PEMFCs are built out of membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) which include the electrodes, electrolyte, catalyst, and gas diffusion layers. An ink of catalyst, carbon, and electrode are sprayed or painted onto the solid electrolyte and carbon paper is hot pressed on either side to protect the inside of the cell and also act as electrodes.
The planar fuel cell design geometry is the typical sandwich type geometry employed by most types of fuel cells, where the electrolyte is sandwiched in between the electrodes. SOFCs can also be made in tubular geometries where either air or fuel is passed through the inside of the tube and the other gas is passed along the outside of the tube.
The oxidizing gas (e.g., pure O 2, O 2 in air, CO 2, etc.) percolates through a hydrophobic layer on the gas diffusion electrode, acting as a cathode. After the gas diffuses to the electrically conducting layer acting as an electrocatalyst (e.g., hydrophilic activated carbon), the gas is electrochemically reduced.
Methanol cross-over and/or its effects can be alleviated by (a) developing alternative membranes (e.g. [6] [7]), (b) improving the electro-oxidation process in the catalyst layer and improving the structure of the catalyst and gas diffusion layers (e.g. [8]), and (c) optimizing the design of the flow field and the membrane electrode assembly ...
The two electrodes are separated by a porous matrix saturated with an aqueous alkaline solution, such as potassium hydroxide (KOH). Aqueous alkaline solutions do not reject carbon dioxide (CO 2) so the fuel cell can become "poisoned" through the conversion of KOH to potassium carbonate (K 2 CO 3). [2]
Paschen's law is an equation that gives the breakdown voltage, that is, the voltage necessary to start a discharge or electric arc, between two electrodes in a gas as a function of pressure and gap length. [2] [3] It is named after Friedrich Paschen who discovered it empirically in 1889. [4]
A proton-exchange membrane, or polymer-electrolyte membrane (PEM), is a semipermeable membrane generally made from ionomers and designed to conduct protons while acting as an electronic insulator and reactant barrier, e.g. to oxygen and hydrogen gas. [1]