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Chemical Degradation: Correlations Between Electrolyzer and Fuel Cell Findings

  • Chapter
Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Durability

Abstract

Membrane chemical degradation of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is summarized in this paper. Effects of experimental parameters, such as external load, relative humidity, temperature, and reactant gas partial pressure, are reviewed. Other factors, including membrane thickness, catalyst type, and cation contamination, are summarized. Localized degradations, including anode versus cathode, ionomer inside the catalyst layer, degradation along the Pt precipitation line, gas inlets, and edges are discussed individually. Various characterization techniques employed for membrane chemical degradation, Fourier transform IR, Raman, energy-dispersive X-ray, NMR, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy are described and the characterization results are also briefly discussed. The detailed discussion on mechanisms of membrane degradation is divided into three categories: hydrocarbon, grafted polystyrene sulfonic acid, and perfluorinated sulfonic acid. Specific discussion on the radical generation pathway, and the relationship between Fenton's test and actual fuel cell testing is also presented. A comparison is made between PEMFCs and polymer electrolyte water electrolyzers, with the emphasis on fuel cells.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Giner, Inc., Giner Electrochemical Systems, LLC, 89 Rumford Avenue, Newton, MA, 02466, USA

    Han Liu & Anthony B. LaConti

  2. Fuel Cell Activities, General Motors, 10 Carriage St., Honeoye Falls, NY, 14472-0603, USA

    Frank D. Coms, Jingxin Zhang & Hubert A. Gasteiger

Authors
  1. Han Liu
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  2. Frank D. Coms
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  3. Jingxin Zhang
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  4. Hubert A. Gasteiger
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  5. Anthony B. LaConti
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Electrochemistry LaboratoryPaul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland

    Felix N. Büchi

  2. Department Molecular Science and Technology, Doshisha University, Kyotanabe, Kyoto, 610-0321, Japan

    Minoru Inaba (Faculty of Engineering) (Faculty of Engineering)

  3. BASF Fuel Cell GmbH Industrial Park Hoechst, G865 D-65926 Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Thomas J. Schmidt

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© 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Liu, H., Coms, F.D., Zhang, J., Gasteiger, H.A., LaConti, A.B. (2009). Chemical Degradation: Correlations Between Electrolyzer and Fuel Cell Findings. In: Büchi, F.N., Inaba, M., Schmidt, T.J. (eds) Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Durability. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-85536-3_5

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