Determination of a spatial distribution of the permeability of an electrochemical - cell electrode

A method for producing an electrochemical cell, comprising:

• providing a reference electrochemical cell including two electrodes separated from each other by an electrolyte and placed between two bipolar plates configured to supply reactive species to the two electrodes and to remove heat produced by the reference electrochemical cell in operation, and having a spatial distribution of local temperature values within the reference electrochemical cell in operation such that at least one local temperature value is greater than or equal to a preset maximum local temperature value,
• at least one electrode of the two electrodes including a diffusion layer configured to ensure diffusion of the supplied reactive species as far as the electrolyte, and
• the diffusion layer having a parameter of interest (k) representative of a permeability of the diffusion layer, the parameter of interest (k) being spatially distributed with an initial distribution (kx,yi);
• determining a spatial distribution (kx,yf) of the parameter of interest (k) for the reference electrochemical cell in operation by:
• defining a spatial distribution (Tx,yc) of a set-point temperature (Tc) within the reference electrochemical cell in operation, the spatial distribution (Tx,yc) being such that the local temperature values are lower than the preset maximum local temperature value,
• measuring a spatial distribution (Dx,yr) of a first thermal quantity (Dr) representative of local removal of heat within the reference electrochemical cell in operation,
• estimating a spatial distribution (Qx,ye) of a second thermal quantity (Qe) representative of local production of heat within the reference electrochemical cell in operation, the estimating depending on the defined spatial distribution (Tx,yc) of the set-point temperature (Tc) and on the measured spatial distribution (Dx,yr) of the first thermal quantity (Dr), such that an effective temperature of the reference electrochemical cell in operation is substantially equal to the defined spatial distribution (Tx,yc) of the set-point temperature (Tc), and
• determining the spatial distribution (kx,yf) of the parameter of interest (k) for the reference electrochemical cell in operation, depending on the estimated spatial distribution (Qx,ye) of the second thermal quantity (Qe);
• and
• producing the electrochemical cell, based on the reference electrochemical cell and in which the parameter of interest (k) has the determined spatial distribution (kx,yf).