COMPATIVE STUDIES ON PERFORMANCE OF SINGLE CELL AND PEMFC STACK

Single-cell, 2-cell and 3-cell of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) with an active area of 9 cm(2) per cell have been fabricated and characterized its performance and electrochemical properties. The membrane electrode assembly (MEA) was prepared by hot pressing commercial gas diffusion electrodes (Pt loading 0.5 mg/cm(2)) on pre-treated Nation 117 membrane. The experimental results are presented as polarization and power output curves which show the effects of varying H-2/O-2 back pressures on the PEMFC performance. Three varying H-2/O-2 volumetric flow rates for three different cell stacks were employed based on the optimal condition to produce good performance of stack. Cell performances for single cell, 2-cell, or 3-cell PEMFCs are slightly comparable with the power output 1.2 1.3 W in average. Enhancing back pressure induces increasing performance PEMFCs as indicated by changing the power from 1.19 W (open end) to 1.33W (15 psi).