A parametric study on the performance requirements of key fuel cell components for the realization of high-power automotive fuel cells

This study examined the performance limitations of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) for high power operations. The effects of improving electron, heat, and oxygen transport within a PEMFC on the cell performance were investigated using a three-dimensional, multiscale, two-phase PEMFC model. For more realistic PEMFC simulations at high current densities, the model newly accounts for anisotropic electron and heat transport in porous components of the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) and the non-uniform MEA compression/deformation occurring during PEMFC stack assembly. The simulations revealed improved transport properties that can be realized by optimizing the component material and design, and the degree of performance improvement was examined for a wide range of operating current densities up to 3.0 A/cm². The simulations showed that improving the through-plane electronic conductivity and thermal conductivity of MEA components is critical for achieving high-power PEMFC performance. By contrast, the properties of the cathode catalyst layer, such as the Pt particle size and oxygen permeation rate through the ionomer film, are relatively less important under high current density PEMFC operations.