Detecting cathode corrosion in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells in dead-ended anode mode via alternating current impedance

N Ge; S Chevalier; D Muirhead; R Banerjee; J Lee; H Liu; P Shrestha; K Fahy; C H Lee; T Aoki; Y Tabuchi; A Bazylak

doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2019.227089

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Detecting cathode corrosion in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells in dead-ended anode mode via alternating current impedance

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Detecting cathode corrosion in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells in dead-ended anode mode via alternating current impedance

N Ge, S Chevalier, D Muirhead, R Banerjee, J Lee, H Liu, P Shrestha, K Fahy, C H Lee, T Aoki, …

Journal of power sources, Vol.439, p.227089

2019-11-01

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2019.227089

Abstract

AC impedance

Cathode corrosion

Dead-ended anode

Durability

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell

Synchrotron X-ray radiography

In this work, an in-operando alternating current (AC) impedance-based method is developed to detect cathode corrosion in a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell operating in dead-ended anode (DEA) mode. Polarization resistances are measured over a 2.0 s sampling time with this method, exhibiting a 10 times higher temporal resolution than conventional electrochemical impedance spectroscopy methods. The performance characteristics of a PEM fuel cell in DEA mode are investigated with both a pristine membrane electrode assembly (MEA) and a corroded MEA, and the sudden rise in the cathode polarization resistance accompanied by a uniform anode polarization resistance is identified as a new indicator for a corroded cathode. The accumulation of nitrogen in the corroded cathode leads to a rise in cathode polarization resistance. This elevated cathode polarization resistance leads to a dehydrated catalyst-coated membrane (CCM) evident through a reduction of the liquid water saturation at the CCM—microporous layer interface (observed using synchrotron X-ray radiography). •Polarization resistances are concurrently measured over a 2.0 s sampling time.•Corrosion in DEA mode is indicated by sudden rises in cathode polarization.•Elevated cathode polarization resistance in DEA leads to CCM dehydration.

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Collaboration types: Industry collaboration; Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 2 Chemistry; 2.62 Electrochemistry; 2.62.571 Proton Conductivity
Web Of Science research areas: Chemistry, Physical; Electrochemistry; Energy & Fuels; Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
ESI research areas: Materials Science

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Details

Title: Detecting cathode corrosion in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells in dead-ended anode mode via alternating current impedance
Creators: N Ge - Thermofluids for Energy and Advanced Materials Laboratory, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Institute for Sustainable Energy, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
S Chevalier - Thermofluids for Energy and Advanced Materials Laboratory, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Institute for Sustainable Energy, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
D Muirhead - Thermofluids for Energy and Advanced Materials Laboratory, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Institute for Sustainable Energy, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
R Banerjee - Thermofluids for Energy and Advanced Materials Laboratory, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Institute for Sustainable Energy, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
J Lee - Thermofluids for Energy and Advanced Materials Laboratory, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Institute for Sustainable Energy, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
H Liu - Thermofluids for Energy and Advanced Materials Laboratory, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Institute for Sustainable Energy, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
P Shrestha - Thermofluids for Energy and Advanced Materials Laboratory, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Institute for Sustainable Energy, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
K Fahy - Thermofluids for Energy and Advanced Materials Laboratory, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Institute for Sustainable Energy, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
C H Lee - Thermofluids for Energy and Advanced Materials Laboratory, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Institute for Sustainable Energy, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
T Aoki - EV System Laboratory, Research Division 2, Nissan Research Center, Nissan Motor Co., LTD., Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan
Y Tabuchi - EV System Laboratory, Research Division 2, Nissan Research Center, Nissan Motor Co., LTD., Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan
A Bazylak - Thermofluids for Energy and Advanced Materials Laboratory, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, Institute for Sustainable Energy, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Publication Details: Journal of power sources, Vol.439, p.227089
Publisher: Elsevier B.V
Academic Unit: College of Engineering; CoE - Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article
Record Identifier: 991031619949402976