A degradation study of Nafion proton exchange membrane of PEM fuel cells

Tang, Haolin; Shen, Pei Kang; Jiang, San Ping; Wang, Fang; Pan, Mu

doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2007.03.061

Cited by 358 publications

(221 citation statements)

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“…Tensile stress caused by membrane dehydration in a constrained Nafion 111 membrane was studied experimentally by Tang et al [7]. Dependence of stress on dehydration level was measured and the typical stress value was approximately 1MPa for a membrane that was dehydrated from 100% RH to 60% RH.…”

Section: Damage Accrual Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: I: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: I: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Operation of a fuel cell under realistic load cycles results in both chemical and mechanical degradation of the polymer electrolyte membrane. Degradation of the membrane causes opening up of pinholes or crazing of polymer [1,2,7] increasing gas-crossover and subsequently resulting in catastrophic failures of the fuel cell stack.Understanding and modeling the mechanical degradation mechanism and kinetics enables prediction of membrane lifetime as a function of PEM operational conditions and optimization of membrane structure through the choice of reinforcement [4], the membrane processing methods and the operating conditions. The physics based model of membrane mechanical degradation could guide the synthesis of new membranes with tuned mechanical properties and enhanced life in a fuel cell.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, we hypothesize that internal stress in the membrane can be caused by the difference in gas RH at the anode and cathode membrane surfaces that routinely occurs at fuel cell operational conditions. Cyclic stress in the membrane causes irreversible elongation of the membrane [7] and subsequent formation of crazes and cracks that causes gas crossover through the membrane and stack failure.The goal of this work is to develop a model that predicts membrane lifetime as a function of fuel cell design and operating conditions, and also of membrane transport and mechanical properties. Three components are needed to model the mechanical degradation process under RH cycling.…”

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confidence: 99%

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A mathematical model for predicting the life of polymer electrolyte fuel cell membranes subjected to hydration cycling

Burlatsky¹,

Gummalla²,

O'Neill³

et al. 2012

Journal of Power Sources

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Under typical PEM fuel cell operating conditions, part of membrane electrode assembly is subjected to humidity cycling due to variation of inlet gas RH and/or flow rate. Cyclic membrane hydration/dehydration would cause cyclic swelling/shrinking of the unconstrained membrane. In a constrained membrane, it causes cyclic stress resulting in mechanical failure in the area adjacent to the gas inlet. A mathematical modeling framework for prediction of the lifetime of a PEM FC membrane subjected to hydration cycling is developed in this paper. The model predicts membrane lifetime as a function of RH cycling amplitude and membrane mechanical properties. The modeling framework consists of three model components: a fuel cell RH distribution model, a 2 hydration/dehydration induced stress model that predicts stress distribution in the membrane, and a damage accrual model that predicts membrane life-time. Short descriptions of the model components along with overall framework are presented in the paper. The model was used for lifetime prediction of a GORE-SELECT membrane. I: Introduction:Mechanical degradation of PEM membrane can limit stack lifetime. Operation of a fuel cell under realistic load cycles results in both chemical and mechanical degradation of the polymer electrolyte membrane. Degradation of the membrane causes opening up of pinholes or crazing of polymer [1,2,7] increasing gas-crossover and subsequently resulting in catastrophic failures of the fuel cell stack.Understanding and modeling the mechanical degradation mechanism and kinetics enables prediction of membrane lifetime as a function of PEM operational conditions and optimization of membrane structure through the choice of reinforcement [4], the membrane processing methods and the operating conditions. The physics based model of membrane mechanical degradation could guide the synthesis of new membranes with tuned mechanical properties and enhanced life in a fuel cell.Hydration cycling is a primary cause of the mechanical degradation of a geometrically constrained polymer, which exhibits dimensional changes with varied water content. A simple way to impose mechanical damage to a geometrically constrained PEM membrane is to subject it to humidity cycling. At high RH, the membrane absorbs water, and at low RH, the membrane desorbs water. Such RH cycling would result in swelling 3 and shrinking of an unconstrained polymer. RH cycling of a constrained polymer causes cyclic stress. In PEM, such geometrical constraints are imposed by bipolar plate ribs through the gas diffusion layers (GDLs), catalyst layers adjacent to the membrane and at the seals. Moreover, we hypothesize that internal stress in the membrane can be caused by the difference in gas RH at the anode and cathode membrane surfaces that routinely occurs at fuel cell operational conditions. Cyclic stress in the membrane causes irreversible elongation of the membrane [7] and subsequent formation of crazes and cracks that causes gas crossover through the membrane and stack failure.The goal of...

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Section: Damage Accrual Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: I: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: I: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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A mathematical model for predicting the life of polymer electrolyte fuel cell membranes subjected to hydration cycling

Burlatsky¹,

Gummalla²,

O'Neill³

et al. 2012

Journal of Power Sources

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Nafion

Tang

Pan

2015

Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Technology

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Nafion is a perfluorinated sulfonic acid resin (PFSA), which was developed by the E. I. DuPont Company. Owing to its stability, superior mechanical properties, high chemical inertness, and proton conductivity, Nafion is currently used in commercial membranes and catalyst layers of fuel cells. This article overviews the structure, morphology, and mechanical and electrochemical properties of Nafion. In addition, important research as well as practical industrial applications, such as brine electrolysis, chlor‐alkali cells, salt splitting, clean power generation by Nafion polymer electrolyte fuel cells, batteries, gas separation, gas sensors, and electrodialysis, is also presented.

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Design rules for the improvement of the performance of hydrocarbon‐based membranes for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC)

Gross

Maier

Fuller

et al. 2010

Handbook of Fuel Cells

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Many different polyelectrolytes have been synthesized over the past decades for application as proton‐conducting membranes in fuel cells. While many of them (polymers as well as membranes) are well studied, it is often hard to identify the specific benefits and drawbacks of one chemical structure over another. On the basis of observations of the effects of certain chemical structures as well as the architecture of the polymer chains on membrane properties such as proton conductivity, water uptake, and durability, this article tries to point out guidelines for the improvement of polyelectrolytes for fuel cell membranes. These guidelines concern polymer properties such as block structures, microphase‐separated morphologies, the type of the attachment of the acidic groups to the polymer chain, the effect of hydrophobicity, and others. The effects of these polymer properties on the behavior of the membrane are described and attempts at explanations for these observations are made.

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A degradation study of Nafion proton exchange membrane of PEM fuel cells

Cited by 358 publications

References 22 publications

A mathematical model for predicting the life of polymer electrolyte fuel cell membranes subjected to hydration cycling

A mathematical model for predicting the life of polymer electrolyte fuel cell membranes subjected to hydration cycling

Nafion

Design rules for the improvement of the performance of hydrocarbon‐based membranes for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC)

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