Gas diffusion electrodes for polymer electrolyte fuel cell using sulfonated polyimide

Gas diffusion electrodes for high temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) have been prepared by using a novel proton conductive sulfonated polyimide (SPI) electrolyte. The catalyst layer was composed of Pt-loaded carbon black (Pt-CB) and SPI ionomer. The polarization properties and the microstructure of the catalyst layer were investigated as a function of the SPI/CB weight ratio. The anodic polarization was found to be negligibly small for all the compositions examined. The highest cathode performance was obtained at SPI/CB = 0.5 (by weight), where the best balance of high catalyst utilization and oxygen gas diffusion rate through the ionomer was obtained.