Analysis of the spatially distributed performance degradation of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell stack

作者：Cho Min Kyung; Lee Dae Nyung; Kim Yi Young; Han Jonghee; Kim Hyoung Juhn; Cho Eunae; Lim Tae Hoon; Henkensmeier Dirk; Yoo Sung Jong; Sung Yung Eun; Park Sehkyu; Jang Jong Hyun^*

来源：International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2014, 39(29): 16548-16555.

DOI：10.1016/j.ijhydene.2014.03.182

• Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC)
• Stack
• Degradation
• Carbon corrosion
• Electrode thinning

Herein we report the spatially uneven degradation of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) stack operated under load variation. Fifteen sub-membrane electrode assemblies (sub-MEAs) at various cell positions and various points within each cell were obtained from the original MEAs employed in the fuel cell stack. Polarization curves and the voltammetric charge of these MEAs were measured in order to correlate localized performances with the redistributed electrochemically active surface on Pt using the polarization technique and cyclic voltammetry. Several ex situ characterizations including electron probe microanalysis, environmental scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction were also performed to find evidence, supporting the inhomogeneous degradation of the fuel cell stack. Possible routes and processes for the non-uniform stack degradation during the PEMFC stack operation will also be discussed.

• 出版日期2014-10-2