Development of a Simple and Rapid Diagnostic Method for Polymer-Electrolyte Fuel Cells

• Published in: Journal of the Electrochemical Society Vol. 165; no. 6; pp. F3007 - F3014
• Main Authors: Pant, Lalit M., Yang, Zhiwei, Perry, Michael L., Weber, Adam Z.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States The Electrochemical Society 01.01.2018; IOP Publishing
• Subjects: 08 HYDROGEN; diagnostics; ENERGY STORAGE; modeling; PEFC; Polymer electrolyte fuel model
• ISSN: 0013-4651; 1945-7111
• DOI: 10.1149/2.0011806jes

A simple and fast diagnostic tool has been developed for analyzing polymer-electrolyte fuel-cell degradation. The tool is based on analyzing changes in polarization curves of a cell over its lifetime. The shape of the polarization-change curve and its sensitivity to oxygen concentration are found to be unique for each degradation pathway based on analysis from a detailed 2-D numerical model of the cell. Using the polarization-change curve methodology, the primary mechanism for degradation (kinetic, ohmic, and/or transport related) can be identified. The technique is applied to two sets of data to explain performance changes after two different cells undergo voltage-cycling accelerated stress test, where it is found that changes are kinetic and then ohmic or transport in nature depending on the cell type. The diagnostic tool provides a simple method for rapid determination of primary degradation mechanisms. Areas for more detailed future investigations are also summarized.