Recoverable performance loss due to membrane chemical degradation in PEM fuel cells

Jingxin Zhang, Brian Litteer, Frank Coms, Rohit Makharia

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference PaperOtherpeer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Recoverable voltage loss was observed for a PEM fuel cell due to membrane chemical degradation under open circuit voltage (OCV) conditions. The anion analysis of the fuel cell effluent water, collected during both the OCV hold and voltage recovery stages, indicates that sulfate release rate is much higher during recovery than that during the OCV hold. The surge in sulfate anion release occurs simultaneously with the recovery of fuel cell voltage. It was found that the reversible voltage loss, and concurrent sulfate release rate during voltage recovery, is lower for Ce-mitigated NRE211 membrane compared to as-received membrane. The recoverable voltage loss is proposed to be mainly due to the sulfate anion generated by membrane chemical degradation adsorbing onto the platinum catalyst surface.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationPolymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells 11
Subtitle of host publication11th Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Symposium, PEFC 11 - 220th ECS Meeting, United States, 9-14 October 2011, Boston, MA
Place of PublicationPennington, NJ, USA
PublisherElectrochemical Society Inc.
Pages1471-1485
Number of pages15
ISBN (Electronic)9781607682547
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2011
Externally publishedYes
Event11th Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Symposium, PEFC 11 - 220th ECS Meeting - Boston, United States of America
Duration: 9 Oct 201114 Oct 2011

Publication series

NameECS Transactions
PublisherElectrochemical Society, Inc.
Number1
Volume41
ISSN (Print)1938-5862
ISSN (Electronic)1938-6737

Conference

Conference11th Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Symposium, PEFC 11 - 220th ECS Meeting
Country/TerritoryUnited States of America
CityBoston
Period9/10/1114/10/11

Cite this