Lattice Boltzmann Simulation of Transport Phenomena in Nanostructured Cathode Catalyst Layer for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

摘要

A multi-component, multiple-relaxation-time (MRT) lattice Boltzmann (LB) model has been employed to study transport processes in the nanostructured cathode catalyst layer of a prototype proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell. The electrode consists of an array of ordered and aligned nanorods that are continuously coated with platinum (Pt). The effect of spacing between the nanorods was studied. Simulation results showed that smaller spacing in nanorods leads to lower utilization of the Pt catalyst due to O_2 mass transport limitations. Results from the LB model were found to be in good agreement with the continuum model using the finite element method (FEM) with the same boundary conditions until the systems reached the O_2 mass transport limited regions, where the solutions diverged.