Performance of proton-exchange membrane fuel cells using the catalyst-gradient electrode technique

For commercialization of proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), stack fabrication cost should be significantly reduced, possibly by reducing the loading of platinum catalyst. Under normal operating conditions using humidified hydrogen and air, the performance of a single cell is not uniform over the active electrode area due to non-uniform distribution of reactant gases and water. To improve catalyst utilization, a catalyst-gradient electrode method is applied to a single-cell fabrication. This procedure is found to be very effective in reducing platinum usage without loss in cell performance.