Catalytic layers in a reversible system comprising an electrolyzing cell and a fuel cell based on solid polymer electrolyte

Electrocatalytic layers of a fuel cell-electrolyzing cell reversible system with solid polymer electrolyte are studied. The system may be used as both a de generator and a water electrolyzing cell. It is shown that the way th e polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) additive is introduced into the cathode's catalytic layer affects the cathode performance. The PTFE introduction in t he form of suspension in an alcohol solution of MF-4SK polymer enhanced per formance. Characteristics of platinum, iridium, and platinum-iridium anode catalysts are compared. The best characteristics are obtained using a compo sition based on platinum black and iridium black, applied layer-by-layer, w ith an iridium-black layer facing the surface of a solid-polymer membrane.