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A review of PEM fuel cell durability: materials degradation, local heterogeneities of aging and possible mitigation strategies

Author

Listed:
  • Laetitia Dubau
  • Luis Castanheira
  • Frédéric Maillard
  • Marian Chatenet
  • Olivier Lottin
  • Gaël Maranzana
  • Jérôme Dillet
  • Adrien Lamibrac
  • Jean‐Christophe Perrin
  • Eddy Moukheiber
  • Assma ElKaddouri
  • Gilles De Moor
  • Corine Bas
  • Lionel Flandin
  • Nicolas Caqué

Abstract

Through a tight collaboration between chemical engineers, polymer scientists, and electrochemists, we address the degradation mechanisms of membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) during proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) operation in real life (industrial stacks). A special attention is paid to the heterogeneous nature of the aging and performances degradation in view of the hardware geometry of the stack and MEA. Macroscopically, the MEA is not fuelled evenly by the bipolar plates and severe degradations occur during start‐up and shut‐down events in the region that remains/becomes transiently starved in hydrogen. Such transients are dramatic to the cathode catalyst layer, especially for the carbon substrate supporting the Pt‐based nanoparticles. Another level of heterogeneity is observed between the channel and land areas of the cathode catalyst layer. The degradation of Pt3Co/C nanocrystallites employed at the cathode cannot be avoided in stationary operation either. In addition to the electrochemical Ostwald ripening and to crystallite migration, these nanomaterials undergo severe corrosion of their high surface area carbon support. The mother Pt3Co/C nanocrystallites are continuously depleted in Co, generating Co2+ cations that pollute the ionomer and depreciate the performance of the cathode. Such cationic pollution has also a negative effect on the physicochemical properties of the proton‐exchange membrane (proton conductivity and resistance to fracture), eventually leading to hole formation. These defects were localized with the help of an infrared camera. The mechanical fracture‐resistance of various perfluorosulfonated membranes further demonstrated that polytetrafluoroethylene‐reinforced membranes better resist hole formation, due to their high resistance to crack initiation and propagation. WIREs Energy Environ 2014, 3:540–560. doi: 10.1002/wene.113 This article is categorized under: Fuel Cells and Hydrogen > Science and Materials Fuel Cells and Hydrogen > Systems and Infrastructure Energy Research & Innovation > Science and Materials

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  • Laetitia Dubau & Luis Castanheira & Frédéric Maillard & Marian Chatenet & Olivier Lottin & Gaël Maranzana & Jérôme Dillet & Adrien Lamibrac & Jean‐Christophe Perrin & Eddy Moukheiber & Assma ElKaddour, 2014. "A review of PEM fuel cell durability: materials degradation, local heterogeneities of aging and possible mitigation strategies," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 3(6), pages 540-560, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:wireae:v:3:y:2014:i:6:p:540-560
    DOI: 10.1002/wene.113
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wang, Yun & Chen, Ken S. & Mishler, Jeffrey & Cho, Sung Chan & Adroher, Xavier Cordobes, 2011. "A review of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells: Technology, applications, and needs on fundamental research," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(4), pages 981-1007, April.
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    1. Baricci, Andrea & Mereu, Riccardo & Messaggi, Mirko & Zago, Matteo & Inzoli, Fabio & Casalegno, Andrea, 2017. "Application of computational fluid dynamics to the analysis of geometrical features in PEM fuel cells flow fields with the aid of impedance spectroscopy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 670-682.
    2. Komini Babu, S. & Spernjak, D. & Dillet, J. & Lamibrac, A. & Maranzana, G. & Didierjean, S. & Lottin, O. & Borup, R.L. & Mukundan, R., 2019. "Spatially resolved degradation during startup and shutdown in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell operation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).
    3. Dacheng Zhang & Catherine Cadet & Nadia Yousfi-Steiner & Christophe Bérenguer, 2018. "Proton exchange membrane fuel cell remaining useful life prognostics considering degradation recovery phenomena," Journal of Risk and Reliability, , vol. 232(4), pages 415-424, August.
    4. Pei, Pucheng & Meng, Yining & Chen, Dongfang & Ren, Peng & Wang, Mingkai & Wang, Xizhong, 2023. "Lifetime prediction method of proton exchange membrane fuel cells based on current degradation law," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 265(C).
    5. Wang, Junye, 2017. "System integration, durability and reliability of fuel cells: Challenges and solutions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 460-479.
    6. Ren, Peng & Meng, Yining & Pei, Pucheng & Fu, Xi & Chen, Dongfang & Li, Yuehua & Zhu, Zijing & Zhang, Lu & Wang, Mingkai, 2023. "Rapid synchronous state-of-health diagnosis of membrane electrode assemblies in fuel cell stacks," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 330(PA).
    7. Liu, Hao & Chen, Jian & Hissel, Daniel & Lu, Jianguo & Hou, Ming & Shao, Zhigang, 2020. "Prognostics methods and degradation indexes of proton exchange membrane fuel cells: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 123(C).
    8. Kafetzis, A. & Ziogou, C. & Panopoulos, K.D. & Papadopoulou, S. & Seferlis, P. & Voutetakis, S., 2020. "Energy management strategies based on hybrid automata for islanded microgrids with renewable sources, batteries and hydrogen," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    9. Li, Zhongliang & Outbib, Rachid & Giurgea, Stefan & Hissel, Daniel & Giraud, Alain & Couderc, Pascal, 2019. "Fault diagnosis for fuel cell systems: A data-driven approach using high-precise voltage sensors," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 1435-1444.
    10. Parra, David & Valverde, Luis & Pino, F. Javier & Patel, Martin K., 2019. "A review on the role, cost and value of hydrogen energy systems for deep decarbonisation," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 279-294.

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