Experimental investigation on degradation mechanism of membrane electrode assembly at different humidity under automotive protocol

doi:10.1016/j.cjche.2022.07.035

Abstract

Abstract: Humidity can affect the attenuation of MEA (membrane electrode assembly), however, the relationship between humidity and MEA decays is complex and ambiguous in realistic application. Herein, we design a simulating automotive protocol, performed on five single fuel cells under RH (relative humidity) 100%, RH 80%, RH 64%, and RH 40%, RH 10%, respectively, to study the relationship of MEA decays and humidity and suggest optimized humidity range to extend the durability. With the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the four degradation mechanisms about catalyst layer, including Pt dissolution, Pt coarsening, carbon corrosion and ionomer degradation, are observed. Pt coarsening and carbon corrosion are accelerated by higher water content at high humidity. Ionomer degradation and Pt dissolution are enhanced in low humidity. With the linear sweep voltammetry, ion chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance, tensile test and scan electron microscope, chemical and mechanical degradation in proton exchange membrane are all observed in these five fuels. Chemical degradation, characterized by membrane thinning and more fluoride loss, occurred markedly in RH 10%. Mechanical degradation, characterized by the non-uniformity thickness and bad mechanical properties, is more pronounced in RH 100%, RH 80%, RH 64%. These two degradations are in a moderate level in RH 40%. The research suggests that the RH range from 64% to 40% is conductive to mitigate the degradation of MEAs operated in automotive applications.

Key words: Fuel cell, Simulating automotive protocol, Relative humidity, Degradation, Membrane

摘要： Humidity can affect the attenuation of MEA (membrane electrode assembly), however, the relationship between humidity and MEA decays is complex and ambiguous in realistic application. Herein, we design a simulating automotive protocol, performed on five single fuel cells under RH (relative humidity) 100%, RH 80%, RH 64%, and RH 40%, RH 10%, respectively, to study the relationship of MEA decays and humidity and suggest optimized humidity range to extend the durability. With the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the four degradation mechanisms about catalyst layer, including Pt dissolution, Pt coarsening, carbon corrosion and ionomer degradation, are observed. Pt coarsening and carbon corrosion are accelerated by higher water content at high humidity. Ionomer degradation and Pt dissolution are enhanced in low humidity. With the linear sweep voltammetry, ion chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance, tensile test and scan electron microscope, chemical and mechanical degradation in proton exchange membrane are all observed in these five fuels. Chemical degradation, characterized by membrane thinning and more fluoride loss, occurred markedly in RH 10%. Mechanical degradation, characterized by the non-uniformity thickness and bad mechanical properties, is more pronounced in RH 100%, RH 80%, RH 64%. These two degradations are in a moderate level in RH 40%. The research suggests that the RH range from 64% to 40% is conductive to mitigate the degradation of MEAs operated in automotive applications.

关键词: Fuel cell, Simulating automotive protocol, Relative humidity, Degradation, Membrane

Jiajun Wang, Wenbin Yang, Jiangtao Geng, Zhigang Shao, Wei Song. Experimental investigation on degradation mechanism of membrane electrode assembly at different humidity under automotive protocol[J]. Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2023, 56(4): 70-79.

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