Damage to the Cathode Catalyst of a PEM Fuel Cell Caused by Localized Fuel Starvation

Patterson, Timothy; Darling, Robert M.

doi:10.1149/1.2167930

Cited by 228 publications

(159 citation statements)

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“…It is known that the corrosion rate of carbon itself is low even under PEFC operating conditions, but the rate is accelerated by Pt catalyst loading with increasing temperature and potential [2,[7][8][9]. The corrosion of the carbon support leads to agglomeration (sintering) and/or a detachment of Pt nanoparticles from the surface, together with a reduction of the electronic conductance in the CL [1,[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. Thus, the ECA for the ORR decreases significantly.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Oxygen Reduction Reaction Activity and Durability of Pt Catalysts Supported on Titanium Carbide

et al. 2015

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Abstract:We have prepared Pt nanoparticles supported on titanium carbide (TiC) (Pt/TiC) as an alternative cathode catalyst with high durability at high potentials for polymer electrolyte fuel cells. The Pt/TiC catalysts with and without heat treatment were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Hemispherical Pt nanocrystals were found to be dispersed uniformly on the TiC support after heat treatment at 600 °C in 1% H2/N2 (Pt/TiC-600 °C). The electrochemical properties (cyclic voltammetry, electrochemically active area (ECA), and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity) of Pt/TiC-600 °C and a commercial Pt/carbon black (c-Pt/CB) were evaluated by the rotating disk electrode (RDE) technique in 0.1 M HClO4 solution at 25 °C. It was found that the kinetically controlled mass activity for the ORR on Pt/TiC-600 °C at 0.85 V (507 A g ). Moreover, the durability of Pt/TiC-600 °C examined by a standard potential step protocol (E = 0.9 V↔1.3 V vs. RHE, holding 30 s at each E) was much higher than that for c-Pt/CB. OPEN ACCESSCatalysts 2015, 5 967

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Oxygen Reduction Reaction Activity and Durability of Pt Catalysts Supported on Titanium Carbide

et al. 2015

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“…Carbon corrosion was detected in many occasions following the operation of the cell under potential cycling [182,184,188,194], start-up and shutdown [176], localised fuel starvation [195,196], and extended OCV [197]. Wilson et al [194] presented TEM images showing how potential cycling causes considerable dissipation of Pt particles from their carbon support in the catalyst.…”

Section: Carbon Corrosionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Degradation aspects of water formation and transport in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell: A review

Ous

Arcoumanis

2013

Journal of Power Sources

133

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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.

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“…Liquid droplets in the reactant channels have been observed and cited in the literature as a cause of mass-transport limitations [22,23]. Not only do they affect performance, but they may lead to local fuel starvation and corrosion of carbon in the cathode catalyst layer [24]. For the WTP design, no liquid water is expected in the gas channels since it is removed through the porous plates.…”

Section: Water-transport-plate and Solid-plate Operation Comparisonmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding porous water-transport plates in polymer-electrolyte fuel cells

Weber

Darling²

2007

Journal of Power Sources

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In this article, numerical simulations are used to compare polymer-electrolyte fuel cells with porous flow-field plates to cells with conventional solid plates. The model clarifies the role of the porous plates in humidifying dry reactant streams and managing liquid water. The influence of gas-diffusion-layer and bipolar-plate properties and coolant vacuum on the behavior of the cell is investigated.

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Damage to the Cathode Catalyst of a PEM Fuel Cell Caused by Localized Fuel Starvation

Cited by 228 publications

References 1 publication

Oxygen Reduction Reaction Activity and Durability of Pt Catalysts Supported on Titanium Carbide

Oxygen Reduction Reaction Activity and Durability of Pt Catalysts Supported on Titanium Carbide

Degradation aspects of water formation and transport in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell: A review

Understanding porous water-transport plates in polymer-electrolyte fuel cells

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