CV and EIS Study of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Durability in Automotive Applications

摘要

The purpose of this paper was to investigate the main issues of the hydrogen fuel cell durability inrelation to a possible application in the transportation sector. The experimental study was effected on a500W Polymeric Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) stack, previously utilized as a power source in a fuelcell power train for scooter applications. The experimental characterization of the used stack, in termsof polarization curves and individual cell voltage acquisition, evidenced a significant total voltagedecrease and a strong irregularity of individual cell voltage. Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) andElectrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) were used in order to investigate the possible causesof the stack performance loss. The results evidenced the role of catalyst particles sintering mechanism,associated with the reduction of electrochemical surface area (ECSA) and with the increase of thecharge transfer resistance (Rct) observed in the fuel cell electrochemical interface. The possible role ofthe stack dynamic operation in cell durability was discussed in relation to the hybridization levelbetween fuel cell generator and electric energy storage system.