Review: Durability and Degradation Issues of PEM Fuel Cell Components

Abstract

Abstract Besides cost reduction, durability is the most important issue to be solved before commercialisation of PEM Fuel Cells can be successful. For a fuel cell operating under constant load conditions, at a relative humidity close to 100% and at a temperature of maximum 75 °C, using optimal stack and flow design, the voltage degradation can be as low as 1–2 μV·h. However, the degradation rates can increase by orders of magnitude when conditions include some of the following, i.e. load cycling, start–stop cycles, low humidification or humidification cycling, temperatures of 90 °C or higher and fuel starvation. This review paper aims at assessing the degradation mechanisms of membranes, electrodes, bipolar plates and seals. By collecting long‐term experiments as well, the relative importance of these degradation mechanisms and the operating conditions become apparent.

Key findings

• ▸Voltage degradation can be as low as 1-2 μV·h under optimal conditions, but increases significantly under load cycling, start-stop cycles, and other non-ideal conditions.
• ▸Membranes, electrodes, bipolar plates, and seals are all susceptible to degradation, with varying relative importance depending on operating conditions.
• ▸Operating conditions such as low humidification, humidification cycling, high temperatures, and fuel starvation can exacerbate degradation.

Keywords

Identifiers

DOI

10.1002/fuce.200700053

Journal

Fuel Cells

Year

2008