On the estimation of high frequency parameters of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells via Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy

摘要

This paper is a discussion on the estimation of impedance parameters of H_2/air fed Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC). The impedance model corresponds to the Randies electrical equivalent circuit accounting for charge separation and transport processes in the cathode catalyst layer, as well as for oxygen diffusion through the backing layer. A sensitivity analysis confirms that the cathode parameters are not correlated and that the consideration of the anode has no significant impact on the estimation of their values. In addition, it is shown that the diffusion parameters have a significant impact in the low frequency domain only, at least with this model. The parameters characterizing charge separation and transport processes at the cathode can thus be estimated with the high frequency impedance data, independently of the oxygen transport model. Consequently, even in the absence of a fully validated oxygen transport impedance, EIS can be used as an alternative method (to classical steady-state methods) for the estimation of the parameters characterizing the cathode reaction: the Tafel slope b, the charge transfer coefficient a and possibly, the exchange current density j_0. This reduces significantly the measuring time while enhancing the accuracy by comparison with steady-state methods.