Abstract
In order to understand the water transport phenomenon in a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), the water transfer resistance through a platinum catalyst layers (CL) is required. In this study, the overall water transfer resistance through the CL is taken as the sum of the resistance to charge/discharge water from the surface of ionomer in the CL and the resistance for water to pass through the ionomer in the CL. The value of this quantity for a CL that is 4 μm thick and is coated on a 178 μm thick Nafion 117, was estimated. The MEA was dried/wetted by supplying gas with controlled humidity to the surface of the MEA. The water concentration contained in the PEM was measured by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) using a small detection coil. The rates of drying/wetting of the MEA were calculated from time-dependent changes of the water concentration measured in the PEM. The overall water transfer resistance through a CL was estimated by comparing experiment and analytical results based on the analytical model. As a result, the overall water transfer resistances through the 4 μm thick CL during drying and wetting were 0–3 × 104 and 10 ± 6 × 104 s/m, respectively.
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