Study on Anode Catalyst Layer Configuration for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell with Enhanced Reversal Tolerance and Polarization Performance

Xia Sheng, Chunyu Ru, Honghui Zhao, Shouyi Jin, Bowen Wang, Yupeng Wang, Linghai Han and Kui Jiao
Additional contact information
Xia Sheng: State Key Laboratory of Engines, 135 Yaguan Rd., Tianjin 300350, China
Chunyu Ru: Powertrain Department, General Institute of FAW, Changchun 130011, China
Honghui Zhao: Powertrain Department, General Institute of FAW, Changchun 130011, China
Shouyi Jin: Powertrain Department, General Institute of FAW, Changchun 130011, China
Bowen Wang: State Key Laboratory of Engines, 135 Yaguan Rd., Tianjin 300350, China
Yupeng Wang: State Key Laboratory of Engines, 135 Yaguan Rd., Tianjin 300350, China
Linghai Han: Powertrain Department, General Institute of FAW, Changchun 130011, China
Kui Jiao: State Key Laboratory of Engines, 135 Yaguan Rd., Tianjin 300350, China

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 8, 1-13

Abstract: Hydrogen starvation leads to the extreme deterioration of fuel cell performance due to the induced voltage reversal and carbon corrosion in the anode catalyst layer (ACL) and gas diffusion layer. In this paper, reversal-tolerant anodes (RTAs) with different ACL configurations are proposed, where IrO x /C is used as a water electrolysis catalyst. Experimental results show that the separate IrO x /C catalyst layer of MEA samples, layered reversal-tolerant catalyst-coated membrane (layered-RTA), and reversal-tolerant gas diffusion electrode (GDE-RTA) significantly enhance the reversal tolerance and cell performance compared to conventional anode and common RTA consisting of a homogeneous catalyst layer mixed with IrO x /C and Pt/C (hybrid-RTA). Of these, GDE-RTA possessed a reversal tolerance time of 86 min, a power density of 1.42 W cm −2 , and a minimum degradation rate of 2.4 mV min −1 , suggesting it to be the best RTA structure. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectrum were used to detect the properties of each sample. Additionally, the degradation mechanisms of the three RTAs are thoroughly investigated and discussed by means of microstructural characterization through scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. This work provides novel ideas for the fabrication of a robust RTA by tuning the ACL configuration, which is practical for the commercialization of fuel cells.

Keywords: fuel cell; hydrogen starvation; reversal tolerance; catalyst layer configuration; degradation mechanism (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: 2022
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