Mathematical modeling and experimental study of the performance of PEM water electrolysis cell with different loadings of platinum metals in electrocatalytic layers

This paper describes a numerical and experimental analysis of the optimum loadings of noble metals (Pt, Ir) in electrocatalytic layers of the polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) water electrolysis cells. Based on the obtained results, the Pt loading of ca. 0.4 mg/cm2 (or 1 mg/cm2 of Pt/C with 40 wt. % of Pt) and ca. 2.5 mg/cm2 of IrO2 loading could be recommended. The developed mathematical model has shown that these optimum values are derived from the interference of activation and ohmic losses in the electrocatalytic layers. The membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) with these noble metal contents does not exhibit significant catalytic layer degradation within 4000 h of operation.