1. Anode defects' propagation in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells
- Author
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Salah Touhami, Marie Crouillere, Julia Mainka, Jérôme Dillet, Christine Nayoze-Coynel, Corine Bas, Laetitia Dubau, Assma El Kaddouri, Florence Dubelley, Fabrice Micoud, Marian Chatenet, Yann Bultel, Olivier Lottin, Laboratoire Énergies et Mécanique Théorique et Appliquée (LEMTA ), Université de Lorraine (UL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Genèse et Usage d'Interfaces Durables pour l'Energie (GUIDE), Laboratoire d'Electrochimie et de Physico-chimie des Matériaux et des Interfaces (LEPMI), Institut de Chimie du CNRS (INC)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA)-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP ), Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA)-Institut de Chimie du CNRS (INC)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA)-Institut polytechnique de Grenoble - Grenoble Institute of Technology (Grenoble INP ), Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA), Laboratoire d'Innovation pour les Technologies des Energies Nouvelles et les nanomatériaux (LITEN), Institut National de L'Energie Solaire (INES), Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Département de l'électricité et de l'hydrogène dans les transports (DEHT), Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de L'Energie Solaire (INES), Electrochimie Interfaciale et Procédés (EIP), French Environmental and Energy Management Agency (ADEME), ANR-17-CE05-0016,ECPOR,Couplage Elastocalorique dans les Polymères pour la génération solide du froid(2017), and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry])-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)
- Subjects
Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment ,[SPI.FLUID]Engineering Sciences [physics]/Reactive fluid environment ,05 social sciences ,Energy Engineering and Power Technology ,02 engineering and technology ,[CHIM.CATA]Chemical Sciences/Catalysis ,[CHIM.MATE]Chemical Sciences/Material chemistry ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,[CHIM.POLY]Chemical Sciences/Polymers ,[CHIM.GENI]Chemical Sciences/Chemical engineering ,0502 economics and business ,[SPI.GPROC]Engineering Sciences [physics]/Chemical and Process Engineering ,050207 economics ,Electrical and Electronic Engineering ,Physical and Theoretical Chemistry ,0210 nano-technology ,[CHIM.OTHE]Chemical Sciences/Other - Abstract
International audience; Defects-propagation in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) is investigated via Accelerated Stress Tests (AST) combining load (hence potential) and load-driven humidity cycling, and open-circuit voltage. Customized MEA with lack of anode catalyst layer at two different locations -near the hydrogen inlet or outlet- are fabricated and subjected to the AST. Periodical electrochemical characterizations are performed using a segmented cell, enabling to track the cell performance and anode/cathode electrochemical surface area (ECSA) over the test period with a spatial resolution along the gas channels. These observations are completed by post mortem analyses of the MEA.The MEA accelerated degradation is obvious, with multiple impacts on the cell performance and materials. More specifically, the results brought first evidence of defects propagation, in term of anode ECSA loss, in the direction of the hydrogen flow. The cathode ECSA is also impacted, although seemingly homogeneously. Significant membrane thinning is observed for the defective segments, without propagation to the adjacent ones. Anode and cathode local potential monitoring during the AST reveals the absence of cathode high-potential excursion, in both the segments with/without initial defects: the membrane and anode accelerated degradation is governed by chemical mechanisms like gas crossover rather than electrochemical mechanisms induced by high-potential excursions.
- Published
- 2022
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