Mitigation of PtCo/C Cathode Catalyst Degradation via Control of Relative Humidity

Ramaswamy, Nagappan; Kumaraguru, Swami; Kukreja, Ratandeep Singh; Groom, Daniel; Jarvis, Karalee; Ferreira, Paulo

doi:10.1149/1945-7111/ac4374

Title: Mitigation of PtCo/C Cathode Catalyst Degradation via Control of Relative Humidity

Journal Article · Fri Dec 24 00:00:00 EST 2021 · Journal of the Electrochemical Society

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/1945-7111/ac4374· OSTI ID:1837378

;

; Kukreja, Ratandeep Singh; Groom, Daniel; Jarvis, Karalee; Ferreira, Paulo

Maintaining the high performance of proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) over the course of its lifetime is a key enabling factor for its successful commercialization as a primary power source in zero-emission transportation applications. In this context, it is important to mitigate the degradation of PtCo-alloy based cathode catalysts used for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). PtCo-alloy catalysts exhibit high activity at beginning-of-life (BOL) which tends to decrease during operation due to loss of electrochemical surface area (ECSA) and dissolution-contamination related effects of the Co-alloying component. Here, we demonstrate the use of relative humidity (RH) of the inlet gases as a controllable parameter to mitigate the degradation of PtCo-alloy catalyst degradation. We employ a catalyst-specific voltage cycling accelerated stress test (AST) durability protocol as a function of inlet RH to degrade PtCo catalysts. A series of in situ electrochemical diagnostics and ex situ characterizations have been carried out to investigate the catalyst layer characteristics at end-of-test (EOT). Our results show that at sub-saturated conditions of durability protocol operation, PtCo catalyst sustains higher EOT H ₂ /air performance due to better retention of ECSA and smaller impact of Co ²⁺ dissolution/contamination.

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Research Organization:: General Motors LLC, Detroit, MI (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

Grant/Contract Number:: EE0007651

OSTI ID:: 1837378

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1835908; OSTI ID: 1980866

Journal Information:: Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Journal Name: Journal of the Electrochemical Society Vol. 168 Journal Issue: 12; ISSN 0013-4651

Publisher:: The Electrochemical SocietyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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