Study of failure mechanisms of the reversal tolerant fuel cell anode via novel in-situ measurements

Wang，Yajun1,2; Zhou，Chang1,3; Xie，Xiaojun4; Yang，Cheng3; Feng，Qi1,3; Zou，Jiexin1,2; Yuan，Xiao Zi6; Fan，Jiantao3; Zeng，Lin2; Li，Hui3; Wang，Haijiang2,5

2020

10.1016/j.ijhydene.2019.10.189

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY   影响因子和分区

0360-3199

1879-3487

Cell voltage reversal resulting from hydrogen starvation at anode is one of the factors that exacerbate the overall degradation of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). An effective material-based mitigation strategy against cell reversal is to add oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts into the anode to make reversal-tolerant-anodes (RTAs). However, RTAs still suffer from an eventual sudden death, and the failure mechanisms of this sudden death have not been well studied thus far. Here we show a novel in-situ measurement technique with a distinctive partition membrane electrode assembly (MEA) to research the failure mechanism of RTAs. It is observed for the first time that the failure of RTAs is mainly attributed to the destruction of electron conducting paths caused by carbon corrosion from catalyst layers (CLs), gas diffusion layers (GDLs) and bipolar plates (BPs), rather than deactivation of the OER catalyst. As a verification, the application of additional OER catalysts on the GDL is found to effectively prolong the reversal tolerant time. These results add significant new insights into the failure mechanism of the RTA MEA and will be of practical importance in directing to design advanced MEAs and BPs that can withstand cell voltage reversal.

Failure mechanism Hydrogen starvation In-suit measurement Polymer electrolyte fuel cell Reversal tolerant anode

SCI ; EI

英语

通讯

National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program)[2017YFB0102701] ; Shenzhen Peacock Plan[KQTD2016022620054656] ; Development and Reform Commission of Shenzhen Municipality[] ; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New and Renewable Energy[2018B030322001] ; Development and Reform Commission of Shenzhen Municipality[1106] ; Guangdong Innovative and Entrepreneurial Research Team Program[2016ZT06N500]

Chemistry ; Electrochemistry ; Energy & Fuels

Chemistry, Physical ; Electrochemistry ; Energy & Fuels

WOS:000509628800080

Elsevier Ltd

20194807736657

Anodes ; Catalysts ; Corrosion ; Diffusion in gases ; More electric aircraft ; Polyelectrolytes ; Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) ; Solid electrolytes

Fuel Cells:702.2 ; Electron Tubes:714.1 ; Chemical Agents and Basic Industrial Chemicals:803 ; Organic Polymers:815.1.1

ENGINEERING

2-s2.0-85075342539

Scopus

1.School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering,Harbin Institute of Technology,Harbin,150001,China
2.Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering,Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen,518055,China
3.Department of Materials Science and Engineering,Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Hydrogen Energy,Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen,518055,China
4.Shenzhen Nan Ke Fuel Cell Co. Ltd,Shenzhen,518055,China
5.Shenzhen Clean Energy Research Institute,Shenzhen,518055,China
6.Research Center of Energy,Mining and Environment,National Research Council Canada,Vancouver,4250 Wesbrook Mall,V6T1W5,Canada

Wang，Yajun,Zhou，Chang,Xie，Xiaojun,et al. Study of failure mechanisms of the reversal tolerant fuel cell anode via novel in-situ measurements[J]. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY,2020,45(1):996-1007.

Wang，Yajun.,Zhou，Chang.,Xie，Xiaojun.,Yang，Cheng.,Feng，Qi.,...&Wang，Haijiang.(2020).Study of failure mechanisms of the reversal tolerant fuel cell anode via novel in-situ measurements.INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY,45(1),996-1007.

Wang，Yajun,et al."Study of failure mechanisms of the reversal tolerant fuel cell anode via novel in-situ measurements".INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY 45.1(2020):996-1007.