Determining the Mechanisms of Cationic Contamination Affecting PEMFCs Using a Strip Cell Configuration

B. L. Kienitz, T. A. Zawodzinski, B. S. Pivovar, F. H. Garzon

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus Citations

Abstract

Cationic contamination of polymer electrolyte fuel cells has been shown to cause serious performance degradation but the exact mechanisms of this degradation are not fully understood. A strip cell configuration was devised to study the mechanisms of performance degradation due to cationic contamination by changing the time and length scales of traditional fueL cells while providing a suitable reference electrode. This "strip cell" configuration utilizes traditional Nation® membranes in an inplane configuration with electrodes painted on each end. Using this cell it was determined that cationic contaminants collect near the cathode of the fuel cell under load and that this profile leads to increased losses primarily in the cathode region. These results can be directly related to performance losses in a typical PEMFC contaminated by foreign cations. copy; The Electrochemical Society.

Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)1069-1078
Number of pages10
JournalECS Transactions
Volume16
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009
EventProton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells 8, PEMFC - 214th ECS Meeting - Honolulu, HI, United States
Duration: 12 Oct 200817 Oct 2008

NREL Publication Number

  • NREL/JA-560-45846

Keywords

  • fuel cells

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