Analysis of transport phenomena in nano/micro porous electrodes for polymer electrolyte fuel cells by high-resolution in situ approaches.

研究了聚合物电解质燃料电池中纳米/微孔电极（催化剂层）的制备工艺及其传质特性。原位和横断面可视化显示，多孔电极的纳米/微观结构受到电极制造过程中应用的成分比例的强烈影响。研究了贴花法施加压力和干燥条件下相对湿度对电极微裂纹产生的影响，并探讨了电极微裂纹产生的基本机理。研究结果表明，纳米/微孔电极中化学物质、离子和电子的输运现象对燃料电池的高性能起着主导作用，提示进一步改进纳米/微孔电极的设计和控制，以增强燃料电池中的输运过程。

Investigations on nano/micro porous electrode (catalyst layer) in polymer electrolyte fuel cells were conducted to clarify fabrication process and mass transfer in the electrodes. In situ and cross-sectional visualizations revealed that nano/micro structures of porous electrodes were intensively affected by ratio of ingredients applied to the fabrication process of the electrode. Influences of applying pressure by decal method and relative humidity under drying condition were also examined with fundamental mechanism for generations of micro cracks in the electrode considered. It was shown that transport phenomena on chemical species, ions and electrons in the porous electrode played a dominant role for high performance fuel cell, suggesting further improvements on design and control of the nano/micro porous electrode to enhance transport process in fuel cells.