Uneven phosphoric acid interfaces with enhanced electrochemical performance for high-temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cells

Abstract

Ultrahigh mass transport resistance and excessive coverage of the active sites introduced by phosphoric acid (PA) are among the major obstacles that limit the performance of high-temperature polymer fuel cells, especially compared to their low-temperature counterparts. Here, an alternative strategy of electrode design with fibrous networks is developed to optimize the redistribution of acid within the electrode. Via structural tailoring with varied electrospinning parameters, uneven migration of PA with dispersed droplets is observed, subverting the immersion model of conventional porous electrode. Combining with experimental and calculation results, the microscaled uneven PA interfaces could not only provide extra diffusion pathways for oxygen but also minimize the thickness of PA layers. This electrode architecture demonstrates enhanced electrochemical performance of oxygen reduction within the PA phase, resulting in a 28% enhancement of the maximum power density for the optimally designed electrode as cathode compared to that of a conventional one.