Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Degradation through Foreign Cation Contamination, Proton Depletion and Carbon Corrosion

Dead-ended anode (DEA) operation of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell (PEFC) can simplify the fuel cell auxiliary and reduce system cost, however durability and lifetime in this operating mode requires further study. In this work, we investigate the electrode and membrane degradations of one 50 cm2 active area fuel cell under DEA operation using a combination of post-mortem evaluation and in-situ performance evaluation protocol. We experimentally identify multiple degradation patterns using a cell which we have previously modeled and experimentally verified the spatio-temporal patterns associated with the anode water flooding and nitrogen blanketing. The change in cell voltage and internal resistance during operation and ex situ Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images of aged electrode/membrane are analysed to determine and characterize the degradation of the membrane electrode assembly (MEA). Chemical degradations including carbon corrosion in the catalyst layer and membrane decomposition are found after operating the cell with a DEA. Mechanical degradations including membrane delamination are also observed. Unique features of DEA operation including fuel starvation/nitrogen blanketing in the anode and uneven local water/current distribution, are considered as culprits for degradation.

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Development of small polymer electrolyte fuel cell stacks

10.2172/460304 ◽

1996 ◽

Author(s):

V A Paganin ◽

E A Ticianelli ◽

E R Gonzalez

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cell ◽

Polymer Electrolyte ◽

Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell

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Elucidation of oxygen reduction reaction and nanostructure of platinum-loaded graphene mesosponge for polymer electrolyte fuel cell electrocatalyst

Electrochimica Acta ◽

10.1016/j.electacta.2020.137705 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 137705

Author(s):

Atsushi Ohma ◽

Yoshihisa Furuya ◽

Tetsuya Mashio ◽

Masashi Ito ◽

Keita Nomura ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cell ◽

Oxygen Reduction Reaction ◽

Oxygen Reduction ◽

Polymer Electrolyte ◽

Reduction Reaction ◽

Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell ◽

Fuel Cell Electrocatalyst

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H2-CO2 polymer electrolyte fuel cell that generates power while evolving CH4 at the Pt0.8Ru0.2/C cathode

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-87841-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Shofu Matsuda ◽

Yuuki Niitsuma ◽

Yuta Yoshida ◽

Minoru Umeda

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cell ◽

Electric Power ◽

Polymer Electrolyte ◽

Carbon Capture ◽

Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell ◽

Cell Temperature ◽

Faradaic Efficiency ◽

Carbon Capture And Utilization ◽

Electrode Potentials ◽

A Cell

AbstractGenerating electric power using CO2 as a reactant is challenging because the electroreduction of CO2 usually requires a large overpotential. Herein, we report the design and development of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell driven by feeding H2 and CO2 to the anode (Pt/C) and cathode (Pt0.8Ru0.2/C), respectively, based on their theoretical electrode potentials. Pt–Ru/C is a promising electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction at a low overpotential; consequently, CH4 is continuously produced through CO2 reduction with an enhanced faradaic efficiency (18.2%) and without an overpotential (at 0.20 V vs. RHE) was achieved when dilute CO2 is fed at a cell temperature of 40 °C. Significantly, the cell generated electric power (0.14 mW cm−2) while simultaneously yielding CH4 at 86.3 μmol g−1 h−1. These results show that a H2-CO2 fuel cell is a promising technology for promoting the carbon capture and utilization (CCU) strategy.

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