Multi-Objective Optimization of Material Distribution in the Anode Catalyst Layer for Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzer Applications

While hydrogen is a clean and renewable energy source for fuel cell vehicles, its production involves various costly methods, with steam reforming being the current popular yet environmentally detrimental technique. An alternative approach involves the use of electrochemical devices such as proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWE), capable of producing pure hydrogen through renewable energies. Nevertheless, these devices face challenges in improving their performance, with the most challenging aspect found in PEMWE being the anode, where the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) occurs. This poses a bottleneck issue because the generated oxygen does not exist solely in dissolved form but also as a gas. The released oxygen gas tends to combine with water vapor, forming bubbles that obstruct the reaction sites. Therefore, this study aims to enhance PEMWE performance by developing an advanced two-dimensional porous electrode model considering heat and mass transport as well as electrochemical reactions. Topology optimization (TO) is then applied to search for optimal material distribution in the anode catalyst layer. The model is developed using COMSOL Multiphysics. The results obtained from the simulation involve a comparison between multi-objective optimization and single-objective optimization. While single-objective optimization focuses solely on the best material distribution for the best performance, multi-objective optimization also considers uniform temperature variation as another objective. The findings from this study are beneficial to those interested in not only high-performance anodes but also anodes that possess durability for long-term operation.