Magnetic Promotion of Oxygen Reduction Reaction with Pt Catalyst in Sulfuric Acid Solutions

In cathode gas reactions of polymer electrolyte fuel cells, oxygen gas is reacted with H+ to produce water on platinum catalyst. The magnetic effect on this electrochemical oxygen reduction was studied. When a magnet field gradient was applied to the cathode by setting a permanent magnet behind it and oxygen gas was supplied toward a stronger magnetic field, electrochemical flux was enhanced. The current increased with increasing magnetic field strength. Magnetic promotion of the cathode reaction was explained by the magnetic attractive force toward paramagnetic O2 gas. The present study demonstrates how fuel cell performance can be improved.