Effect of Acetonitrile Contamination on Long-Term Degradation of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Zhai, Yunfeng; Ge, Junjie; Qi, Jing; St-Pierre, Jean

doi:10.1149/2.0221806jes

Title: Effect of Acetonitrile Contamination on Long-Term Degradation of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Journal Article · 21 March 2018 · Journal of the Electrochemical Society

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1149/2.0221806jes · OSTI ID:1509900

^[1]; Ge, Junjie ^[2]; Qi, Jing ^[3]; St-Pierre, Jean ^[3]

Univ. of Hawaii - Manoa, Honolulu, HI (United States). Hawaii Natural Energy Inst.; Univ. of Hawaii, Honolulu (United States)
Univ. of Hawaii - Manoa, Honolulu, HI (United States). Hawaii Natural Energy Inst.; Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Jilin (People's Republic of China). Changchun Inst. of Applied Chemistry
Univ. of Hawaii - Manoa, Honolulu, HI (United States). Hawaii Natural Energy Inst.

A long-term contamination (for 1000 hrs) test is conducted under constant current operation with 5 ppm acetonitrile in the air stream, and the results are compared to those for a controlled blank single-cell test. The long-term effects of the contaminant on cell performance and the structure of the membrane electrodes assembly are identified by a series of analyses, including electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, ion chromatography, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. During the long-term test, the acetonitrile significantly decreases the cell performance for a 0.1-mg Pt cm^-2 catalyst coated membrane. The acetonitrile contamination accelerates catalyst particle growth; however, interestingly, it inhibited membrane degradation. This result may provide a possible approach for improving fuel cell durability.

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Research Organization:: Univ. of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI (United States)

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

Grant/Contract Number:: EE0000467

OSTI ID:: 1509900

Journal Information:: Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Journal Name: Journal of the Electrochemical Society Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 165; ISSN 0013-4651

Publisher:: The Electrochemical SocietyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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