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This is the accepted version of the paper.This version of the publication may differ from the final published version. Permanent repository link AbstractThis review paper summarises the key aspects of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) degradation that are associated with water formation, retention, accumulation, and transport mechanisms within the cell. Issues related to loss of active surface area of the catalyst, ionomer dissolution, membrane swelling, ice formation, corrosion, and contamination are also addressed and discussed. The impact of each of these water mechanisms on cell performance and durability was found to be different and to vary according to the design of the cell and its operating conditions. For example, the presence of liquid water within Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA), as a result of water accumulation, can be detrimental if the operating temperature of the cell drops to sub-freezing.The volume expansion of liquid water due to ice formation can damage the morphology of different parts of the cell and may shorten its life-time. This can be more serious, for example, during the water transport mechanism where migration of Pt particles from the catalyst may take place after detachment from the carbon support. Furthermore, the effect of transport mechanism could be augmented if humid reactant gases containing impurities poison the membrane, leading to the same outcome as water retention or accumulation.Overall, the impact of water mechanisms can be classified as aging or catastrophic. Aging has a longterm impact over the duration of the PEMFC life-time whereas in the catastrophic mechanism the impact is immediate. The conversion of cell residual water into ice at sub-freezing temperatures by the water retention/ accumulation mechanism and the access of poisoning contaminants through the water transport mechanism are considered to fall into the catastrophic category. The effect of water mechanisms on PEMFC degradation can be reduced or even eliminated by (a) using advanced materials for improving the electrical, chemical and mechanical stability of the cell components against deterioration, and (b) implementing effective strategies for water management in the cell.

This is the accepted version of the paper.This version of the publication may differ from the final published version. Permanent repository link AbstractA transparent proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) has been designed to enable visualisation of water droplets during its operation. Images of the formation of droplets on the surface of the gas diffusion layer (GDL) on its cathode side, which result in water accumulation and blockage to the air-flow channels, were recorded using a CCD camera. Measurement of the cell current and droplet characterisation have been carried out simultaneously and the effect of the airflow and external resistive load has been quantified. The droplet images show that water accumulation occurs first in the middle channels of a serpentine reactant-flow fuel cell design and that no droplets are formed at the bends of the flow channels. Water blockage to the airflow path was caused by the overlapping of two land-touching droplets developing on each side of the channel. Flooding was found to be more susceptible to the airflow than the other test operating conditions.

This is the accepted version of the paper.This version of the publication may differ from the final published version. Permanent repository link AbstractThe accumulation of water in the cathode/anode serpentine flow-channels of a transparent PEMFC has been investigated by direct visualisation where water droplets and slugs formed in these channels were quantified over a range of operating conditions. Four operating parameters concerning air stoichiometry, hydrogen stoichiometry, cell temperature, and electric load were examined to evaluate their effects on the formation and extraction of water from the flow channels. The results showed that hydrogen and air stoichiometry contribute almost equally to the water formation process in the cathode channels. However, their effects on the water extraction from the channels were quite different. Air stoichiometry proved capable of extracting all the water from the cathode channels, without causing membrane dehydration, contrary to hydrogen. Increasing the operating temperature of the cell was found to be very effective for the water extraction process; a temperature of 60C° was sufficient to evaporate all the water in the channels as well as enhancing the fuel cell current. The electric load was strongly associated to the water formation in the channels but had no influence on water extraction. Finally, no water was present in the anode flow channels under all examined operating conditions.

This is the accepted version of the paper.This version of the publication may differ from the final published version. To be submitted to the Permanent repository link International Journal of Hydrogen 2009Abstract Air-Breathing Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (AB-PEMFC) have the potential to supersede lithium ion batteries in portable electronics. However, their water management issue has yet to be resolved to ensure optimum cell performance and safe system operation. In this paper, the formation of water droplets and their aggregation in the cathode flow channels of an operating AB-PEMFC is investigated by direct visualisation under various operating conditions. The developed optical set-up enables observation of droplet formation on the surface of the membrane from the top and side view of the channels simultaneously. The two orthogonal views reveal that during formation the receding and advancing droplet contact angles are almost identical with values that increase, in a similar trend to the droplet height, with increasing droplet diameter. Water films were able to develop and maintain direct contact with the side-wall of the channels even under the effect of gravitational force. The aggregation of water droplets in the channels was strongly influenced by the change in the air and hydrogen stiochiometry conditions. However, these operating parameters appear to have no significant effect on the water extraction from the channels contrary to load and temperature, where temperature has proved to be the most effective water removal mechanism with minimum reduction in the current density of AB-PEMFC.