Gas diffusion electrode setup for catalyst testing in concentrated phosphoric acid at elevated temperatures

Gustav K H Wiberg; Michael Fleige; Matthias Arenz

doi:10.1063/1.4908169

Gas diffusion electrode setup for catalyst testing in concentrated phosphoric acid at elevated temperatures

Rev Sci Instrum. 2015 Feb;86(2):024102. doi: 10.1063/1.4908169.

Authors

Gustav K H Wiberg¹, Michael Fleige¹, Matthias Arenz¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Chemistry and Nano-Science Center, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, 2100 Ø Copenhagen, Denmark.

PMID: 25725862
DOI: 10.1063/1.4908169

Abstract

We present a detailed description of the construction and testing of an electrochemical cell setup allowing the investigation of a gas diffusion electrode containing carbon supported high surface area catalysts. The setup is designed for measurements in concentrated phosphoric acid at elevated temperature, i.e., very close to the actual conditions in high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs). The cell consists of a stainless steel flow field and a PEEK plastic cell body comprising the electrochemical cell, which exhibits a three electrode configuration. The cell body and flow field are braced using a KF-25 vacuum flange clamp, which allows an easy assembly of the setup. As demonstrated, the setup can be used to investigate temperature dependent electrochemical processes on high surface area type electrocatalysts, but it also enables quick screening tests of HT-PEMFC catalysts under realistic conditions.