The optimal electrode pore size and channel width in electrochemical flow cells

Microfluidic fuel cells, electrolyzers, and redox flow batteries utilize laminar flow channels to provide reactants, remove products and avoid their crossover. These devices often also employ porous flow-through electrodes as they offer a high surface area for the reaction and excellent mass transfer. The geometrical features of these...

A theoretical analysis of the optimal electrode thickness and porosity

Using electrodes or catalytic layers that are porous increases the reactive surface area but also the distance that ions and electrons have to travel. Thicker electrodes, through their larger surface area, reduce the activation overpotential but increase the ohmic losses. There will therefore be an electrode thickness for which the voltage...