Numerical study of the effects of the microporous layer/catalyst layer interfaces on PEMFCs

CHANG Hong; LI Li; TAN Shujian; KUI Dianlu; ZHANG Heng

doi:10.11949/0438-1157.20260160

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Numerical study of the effects of the microporous layer/catalyst layer interfaces on PEMFCs

更新时间：2026-05-12

- Numerical study of the effects of the microporous layer/catalyst layer interfaces on PEMFCs
- CIESC Journal (2026)
- 作者机构：
  
  中国矿业大学低碳能源与动力工程学院，江苏徐州 221116
- 作者简介：
- 基金信息：
- DOI：10.11949/0438-1157.20260160
  CLC： TK91
- Received：01 February 2026，
  
  Revised：2026-05-08，
  
  Accepted：12 May 2026，
- 稿件说明：
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CHANG Hong, LI Li, TAN Shujian, et al. Numerical study of the effects of the microporous layer/catalyst layer interfaces on PEMFCs[J/OL]. CIESC Journal, 2026.
DOI：

CHANG Hong, LI Li, TAN Shujian, et al. Numerical study of the effects of the microporous layer/catalyst layer interfaces on PEMFCs[J/OL]. CIESC Journal, 2026. DOI： 10.11949/0438-1157.20260160.

摘要

微孔层（MPL）/催化层（CL）界面对质子交换膜燃料电池（PEMFC）中热、电传导及气、液传输有显著影响，但受限于界面微结构的复杂性及非均匀性，对其开展深入机理研究仍面临诸多挑战。本研究基于实验表征获取MPL/CL界面真实形貌，建立二维、非等温两相流数值模型，探究界面对电池内部多物理场分布及性能的影响规律。研究结果表明，界面的存在使传质受限加剧氧气分布不均，局部欧姆阻抗升高诱导电流密度集中，热阻增加强化温度梯度，液态水迁移受阻则促进水的滞留与积聚，最终导致电池性能劣化。因此，在数值模拟中充分考虑MPL/CL界面，对于提升质子交换膜燃料电池性能预测的准确性与可信度具有关键作用。

Abstract

The microporous layer (MPL)/catalyst layer (CL) interface significantly influences heat and electronic conduction

as well as gas and liquid transport in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). However

due to the complexity and heterogeneity of the interfacial microstructure

conducting in-depth mechanistic investigations remains challenging. This study employs experimental characterization to obtain the realistic morphology of the MPL/CL interface

establishes a two-dimensional

non-isothermal

two-phase flow numerical model

and systematically investigates the effects of the interface on multiphysics field distributions and cell performance. The results demonstrate that the presence of the interface exacerbates mass transport limitations

resulting in heterogeneous oxygen distribution. Localized elevations in ohmic resistance leads to current density localization

while increased thermal resistance amplifies temperature gradients. Impeded liquid water transport facilitates water retention and accumulation

ultimately causing cell performance degradation. Therefore

integrating the MPL/CL interface into numerical simulations is critical for enhancing the accuracy and reliability of performance predictions in PEMFC.

关键词

Keywords

references

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