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Title: Utilizing a Segmented Fuel Cell to Study the Effects of Electrode Coating Irregularities on PEM Fuel Cell Initial Performance

Abstract

Abstract An understanding of the impact of coating irregularities on beginning of life polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEMFC) performance is essential to develop and establish manufacturing tolerances for its components. Coating irregularities occurring in the fuel cell electrode can either possess acceptable process variations or potentially harmful defects. A segmented fuel cell (SFC) is employed to understand how 100% catalyst reduction irregularities ranging from 0.125 to 1 cm 2 in the cathode electrode of a 50 cm 2 sized cell impact spatial and total cell performance at dry and wet humidification conditions. By analyzing the data in a differential format the local performance effects of irregularity sizes down to 0.25 cm 2 were detected in the current distribution of the cell. Slight total cell performance impacts, due to irregularity sizes of 0.5 and 1 cm 2 , were observed under dry operation and high current densities.

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [2]
  1. National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States); Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (United States)
  2. National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
  3. Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Program (EE-3F); USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1364158
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1389903
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA-5900-67416
Journal ID: ISSN 1615-6846
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC36-08GO28308; DE‐AC36‐08‐GO28308
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Fuel Cells
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 17; Journal Issue: 3; Journal ID: ISSN 1615-6846
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION; coating irregularity; current distribution; defect; manufacturing; PEMFC; segmented cell; spatial performance

Citation Formats

Phillips, Adam, Ulsh, Michael, Porter, Jason, and Bender, Guido. Utilizing a Segmented Fuel Cell to Study the Effects of Electrode Coating Irregularities on PEM Fuel Cell Initial Performance. United States: N. p., 2017. Web. doi:10.1002/fuce.201600214.
Phillips, Adam, Ulsh, Michael, Porter, Jason, & Bender, Guido. Utilizing a Segmented Fuel Cell to Study the Effects of Electrode Coating Irregularities on PEM Fuel Cell Initial Performance. United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/fuce.201600214
Phillips, Adam, Ulsh, Michael, Porter, Jason, and Bender, Guido. Thu . "Utilizing a Segmented Fuel Cell to Study the Effects of Electrode Coating Irregularities on PEM Fuel Cell Initial Performance". United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/fuce.201600214. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1364158.
@article{osti_1364158,
title = {Utilizing a Segmented Fuel Cell to Study the Effects of Electrode Coating Irregularities on PEM Fuel Cell Initial Performance},
author = {Phillips, Adam and Ulsh, Michael and Porter, Jason and Bender, Guido},
abstractNote = {Abstract An understanding of the impact of coating irregularities on beginning of life polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEMFC) performance is essential to develop and establish manufacturing tolerances for its components. Coating irregularities occurring in the fuel cell electrode can either possess acceptable process variations or potentially harmful defects. A segmented fuel cell (SFC) is employed to understand how 100% catalyst reduction irregularities ranging from 0.125 to 1 cm 2 in the cathode electrode of a 50 cm 2 sized cell impact spatial and total cell performance at dry and wet humidification conditions. By analyzing the data in a differential format the local performance effects of irregularity sizes down to 0.25 cm 2 were detected in the current distribution of the cell. Slight total cell performance impacts, due to irregularity sizes of 0.5 and 1 cm 2 , were observed under dry operation and high current densities.},
doi = {10.1002/fuce.201600214},
journal = {Fuel Cells},
number = 3,
volume = 17,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Apr 27 00:00:00 EDT 2017},
month = {Thu Apr 27 00:00:00 EDT 2017}
}

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Cited by: 19 works
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Works referenced in this record:

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Works referencing / citing this record:

Along-the-Channel Impacts of Water Management and Carbon-Dioxide Contamination in Hydroxide-Exchange-Membrane Fuel Cells: A Modeling Study
journal, January 2019

  • Gerhardt, Michael R.; Pant, Lalit M.; Weber, Adam Z.
  • Journal of The Electrochemical Society, Vol. 166, Issue 7
  • DOI: 10.1149/2.0171907jes

Local Current Density and Electrochemical Impedance Measurements within 50 cm Single-Channel PEM Electrolysis Cell
journal, January 2018

  • Immerz, C.; Bensmann, B.; Trinke, P.
  • Journal of The Electrochemical Society, Vol. 165, Issue 16
  • DOI: 10.1149/2.0411816jes

Local Current Density and Electrochemical Impedance Measurements within 50 cm Single-Channel PEM Electrolysis Cell
other, January 2018

  • Immerz, C.; Bensmann, B.; Trinke, P.
  • Pennington : Electrochemical Society (ECS)
  • DOI: 10.15488/4911