The gas diffusion electrode setup as a testing platform for evaluating fuel cell catalysts: A comparative RDE‐GDE study

Abstract Gas diffusion electrode (GDE) setups have been recently introduced as a new experimental approach to test the performance of fuel cell catalysts under high mass transport conditions, while maintaining simplicity rotating disk (RDE) setups. In contrast RDE protocols, for investigations using GDE only few systematic studies performed. literature, different arrangements were demonstrated, example, with and without an incorporated proton exchange membrane. Herein, we chose membrane‐GDE comparative RDE–GDE study, where investigate several commercial standard Pt/C respect oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Our results demonstrate both challenges strengths catalyst testing platform. We highlight analysis optimization film parameters. That is, instead focusing on intrinsic ORR activities that are typically derived in investigations, focus parameters, such ink recipe, which can be optimized individual much simpler manner compared elaborative membrane assembly (MEA) testing. particular, it is demonstrated ∼50% improvement reached particular by changing Nafion content layer. The study therefore stresses feasibility used intermediate “testing step” between MEA tests when developing catalysts.