Durability of PEMFC Cathodes Exposed to Toluene-contaminated Air

摘要

The effects of toluene contamination on the performance of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) were studied. The severity of the contamination effect increased with increases in the current density, the toluene concentration and air stoichiometry, but decreased with an increase in the back pressure. The effect of toluene contamination on current dynamic operation was also studied by cycling the current density from 0.0 to 0.2, and then to 1.0 A cm~(-2) at the presence of toluene. The degradation of the fuel cell performance during the current dynamic operation was accelerated by the presence of toluene.