Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Degradation Mechanisms and Their Diagnosis by Frequency Response Analysis Methods: A Review

Antonio Sorrentino, Kai Sundmacher and Tanja Vidakovic-Koch
Additional contact information
Antonio Sorrentino: Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, Sandtorstraße 1, D-39106 Magdeburg, Germany
Kai Sundmacher: Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, Sandtorstraße 1, D-39106 Magdeburg, Germany
Tanja Vidakovic-Koch: Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, Sandtorstraße 1, D-39106 Magdeburg, Germany

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 21, 1-28

Abstract: Several experimental techniques involving dynamic electrical variables are used to study the complex behaviour of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells in order to improve performance and durability. Among them, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is one of the most employed methods. Like any frequency response analysis (FRA) methodology, EIS enables one to separate the contribution of many processes to performance losses. However, it fails to identify processes with a similar time constant and the interpretation of EIS spectra is often ambiguous. In the last decade, alternative FRA methodologies based on non-electrical inputs and/or outputs have been developed. These studies were mainly driven by requirements for a better diagnosis of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) faulty operation conditions as well as better component and material design. In this contribution, a state-of-the-art EIS and novel FRA techniques for PEMFC diagnosis are summarised. First, common degradation mechanisms and their causes are discussed. A mathematical framework based on linear system theory of time invariant systems is described in order to explain the theoretical implications of the use of different input/output configurations. In relation to this, the concepts and potential are depicted as well as the problematic aspects and future prospective of these diagnostic approaches.

Keywords: polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell; degradation; impedance; frequency response analysis; PEMFC diagnosis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/21/5825/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/21/5825/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:21:p:5825-:d:441596

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().