Impact of Log-Normal Particle Size Distribution in Holby–Morgan Degradation Model on Aging of Pt/C Catalyst in PEMFC

Victor A. Kovtunenko

doi:10.3390/technologies13070262

journal article Open Access Jun 20, 2025

Impact of Log-Normal Particle Size Distribution in Holby–Morgan Degradation Model on Aging of Pt/C Catalyst in PEMFC

Victor A. Kovtunenko

Technologies Vol. 13 No. 7 pp. 262 · MDPI AG

View at Publisher Save 10.3390/technologies13070262

Abstract

The Holby–Morgan model of electrochemical degradation in platinum on a carbon catalyst is studied with respect to the impact of particle size distribution on aging in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. The European Union harmonized protocol for testing by non-symmetric square-wave voltage is applied for accelerated stress cycling. The log-normal distribution is estimated using finite size groups which are defined by two parameters of the median and standard deviation. In the non-diffusive model, the first integral of the system is obtained which reduces the number of differential equations. Without ion diffusion, it allows to simulate platinum particles shrank through platinum dissolution and growth by platinum ion deposition. Numerical tests of catalyst degradation in the diffusion model demonstrate the following changes in platinum particle size distribution: broadening for small and shrinking for large medians with tailing towards large particles; the possibility of probability decrease as well as increase for each size group; and overall, a drop in the platinum particle size takes place, which is faster for the small median owing to the Gibbs–Thompson effect.

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Published: Jun 20, 2025
Vol/Issue: 13(7)
Pages: 262
License: View

Authors

V

Victor A. Kovtunenko

Department of Mathematics and Scientific Computing, Karl-Franzens University of Graz, NAWI Graz, Heinrichstr. 36, 8010 Graz, Austria; Lavrentyev Institute of Hydrodynamics, Siberian Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia

Cite This Article

Victor A. Kovtunenko (2025). Impact of Log-Normal Particle Size Distribution in Holby–Morgan Degradation Model on Aging of Pt/C Catalyst in PEMFC. Technologies, 13(7), 262. https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies13070262

Impact of Log-Normal Particle Size Distribution in Holby–Morgan Degradation Model on Aging of Pt/C Catalyst in PEMFC

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