An empirical equation for polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) behaviour

A simple analytical expression to determine cell potential (E) against current density (i) behaviour in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) was derived. The equation describes experimental data over the whole range of current density taking into account possible mass transport limitations. The empirical equation was used to fit experimental data obtained in a 50 cm(2) single cell in H-2/air operation using electrodes with low Pt loading (similar to 0.1 mg cm(-2)). A good agreement between theoretical and experimental data was found.