The Mechanism of Operation of the Teflon-Bonded Gas Diffusion Electrode: A Mathematical Model

Abstract

A mathematical nalysis of the working mechanism of the Teflon-bonded gas diffusion electrode, based on the concept of "flooded agglomerates, " is discussed. This model is used to predict the performance of the electrode as a function of such measurable physical characteristics as intrinsic activity of catalyst, agglomerate size, internal porosity, real surface area, etc. The alka-line oxygen electrode is taken as an example for the discussion. The theory of porous electrodes has been the object of many publications. A general discussion of the be-havior of fully flooded and gas diffusion porous elec-trodes, both for steady state and transient responses, can be found in a recent monograph by De Levie (1). The present paper is concerned only with the steady state behavior of gas diffusion electrodes which, al-though studied less than flooded electrodes, has als