Characteristics of High-Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (HT-PEMFCs) Based on Novel Structures on Electrode Surfaces

The performance of electrodes is the most critical factor determining the output characteristics of high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs), and the electrode structure directly determines the strength of mass transfer and electrochemical reactions. Therefore, exploring the mechanism of increasing the specific surface area of electrodes is crucial for the design of electrode structures. In this paper, the electrochemical characteristics and mass transport of an HT-PEMFC are investigated based on a three-dimensional single-channel model, and a mathematical model of the fin structure on the electrode surface is established to make comparisons with calculations. The results indicate that the oxygen mole concentration decreases with an increase in fin density. Meanwhile, the fuel cell reaches optimal performance at a low operating voltage and in high fin density conditions. In addition, the output performance of the PEMFC increases with the aspect ratio. Finally, the potential distribution of the simulation results coincides with the theoretical model, and the mechanism of electrode polarization on the performance of fin geometry can significantly support the interpretation of kinetic characteristics obtained from simulations. The research result contributes to the efficient design and preparation of future electrode structures of HT-PEMFCs.