Flow Through Nanoporous Electrodes in a Microfluidic Fuel Cell

ABSTRACT In this paper we present how advection in the electric double layer (EDL) affects the kinetic performance of electrochemical cells. To accomplish this we use a laminar flow fuel cell model based on the Poisson-NernstPlanck and Frumkin-Butler-Volmer equations. The model contains nonlinear physics with very disparate length scales due to the complex 3-dimensional nature of the nano-porous device. To account for these difficulties, the full mathematical model is solved numerically using a novel numerical algorithm developed based on domain decomposition method. Numerical results show that the presence of an advection flux through nano-pores on the order of the EDL width yields some novel physics that affect the structure of electrode-electrolyte interface. We also show that electrolyte advection within the EDL can be used to enhance the kinetic performance of electrodes in electrochemical cells. In the device presented the peak power density can be increased significantly with flow velocity

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