Degradation behaviors of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell under freeze/thaw cycles

Luo, Maji; Huang, Chengyong; Liu, Wei; Luo, Zixue; Pan, Mu

doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2009.06.036

Cited by 64 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Sample preparation techniques such as breaking the MEA under liquid nitrogen [6] or cutting small slices off the MEA either by a scalpel [7] or a razor blade [8] provide only a small volume fraction of the MEA. Furthermore, only the surface of this volume fraction can be investigated.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cutting slices off the MEA may cause damage of the real pore structure or smearing of the membrane [7]. Breaking the MEA under liquid nitrogen may lead to falsely interpreted inhomogeneities in the electrode structure due to agglomerates, which might be pulled out of the surface during the sample preparation [6]. In order to minimise these artefacts, an advanced sample preparation method has been developed recently by Blom et al [9] and enhanced by Scheiba [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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3D Visualisation of PEMFC Electrode Structures Using FIB Nanotomography

et al. 2010

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It is well known that the electrode structure of a PEMFC has a huge influence on the water management and thereby on the cell performance. In this work, two MEAs – one prepared by an airbrushing technique and the other by a novel fast spray coating technique (multilayered MEA) – were analysed with respect to porosity, pore size distribution, tortuosity and their electrochemical performance. FIB nanotomography with following 3D reconstruction, SEM investigation on ultramicrotomic thin‐sections, and single cell tests were performed on these MEAs. The results show a higher porosity and lower pore size for the multilayered MEA. The multilayered MEA reaches a Pt utilisation of 1,962 mW mg–1 and a peak power density of 210 mW cm–2, whereas the airbrushed MEA only provides a Pt utilisation of 879 mW mg–1 and a peak power density of 218 mW cm–2. The Pt utilisation calculations showed in combination with the structural characterisations that a homogeneous pore structure and Pt distribution provide an advantage with regard to performance and efficiency of the PEMFC. Furthermore, the multilayered MEA may offer an advantage over the airbrushed MEA in its long term stability, which was observed in preliminary tests.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

3D Visualisation of PEMFC Electrode Structures Using FIB Nanotomography

et al. 2010

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“…Among the various cell components, the degradation of the MEA has been steadily shown during a freeze/thaw process. The various MEA degradation mechanisms were investigated and can be summarized as follows: the formation of a crack or cavity, frost heave, void formation, the loss of platinum from a catalyst layer, the delamination of a catalyst layer from a membrane, the decrease in the electrochemical active area, and the increase in the contact resistance near the MEA [56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63]. Meanwhile, only a handful of papers focus on GDL degradation, regardless of the fact that a GDL is also an important factor in how quickly a PEM fuel cell degrades because it controls the water content in the GDL and its surrounding components, such as the membrane and catalyst.…”

Section: Gdl Degradation Under Freezing/thawing Conditionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of the gas diffusion layer in proton exchange membrane fuel cells: Durability and degradation

et al. 2015

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“…Others like [70] suggested reducing RH, temperature and hydrogen pressure during PEMFC operation to suppress the hydrogen cross-over mechanism. The influence of fuel and oxidant starvation [71], open circuit operation [72], excessive air bleeding [73], humidity cycling [74,75], load-on/off cycling [76], and freeze/thaw cycling [77] on structural changes of the membrane was also demonstrated. A more detailed analysis of the effect of the operating conditions on the PEMFC durability can be found in [78].…”

Section: Technology Development Organisation (Nedo) and The Europeanmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Ous

Arcoumanis

2013

Journal of Power Sources

132

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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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Degradation behaviors of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell under freeze/thaw cycles

Cited by 64 publications

References 6 publications

3D Visualisation of PEMFC Electrode Structures Using FIB Nanotomography

3D Visualisation of PEMFC Electrode Structures Using FIB Nanotomography

A review of the gas diffusion layer in proton exchange membrane fuel cells: Durability and degradation

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

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