Title: Modeling Coupled Durability and Performance in Polymer-Electrolyte Fuel Cells: Membrane Effects

Abstract

During operation, proton-exchange-membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are subjected to mechanical and chemical stressors that contribute to membrane degradation, performance loss, and eventual failure. Together, synergistic effects between mechanical and chemical degradation mechanisms lead to accelerated degradation. A physics-based model is developed to understand the synergistic effects of chemical and mechanical degradation and the coupled nature of performance and durability in PEMFCs. The model includes pinhole existence and growth in the membrane, which increases crossover of reactant gases as well as subsequent formation of chemical degradation agents that impact both transport and mechanical properties of the membrane. The fuel-cell model is fully coupled with a mechanical model to determine the stresses on the membrane and subsequent growth of pinholes during transient operation. Simulation results demonstrate pinhole growth under relative-humidity cycling and the resultant increased gas-crossover fluxes and decrease in polarization performance. Furthermore, the model results highlight nonlinearities and the importance of coupling mechanical and chemical degradation models in order to explain membrane degradation under various cycles, and serves as a foundation for examining coupled durability and performance.

Authors:

Ehlinger, Victoria M.  ^[1];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Ehlinger, Victoria M."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-7333-1271"

Kusoglu, Ahmet  ^[2];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Kusoglu, Ahmet"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-2761-1050"

Weber, Adam Z.  ^[2]

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Weber, Adam Z."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-7749-1624"

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+ Show Author Affiliations

1. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States); Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
2. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)

Publication Date:

Mon May 06 00:00:00 EDT 2019

Research Org.:

Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Transportation Office. Fuel Cell Technologies Office

OSTI Identifier:

1773708

Grant/Contract Number:  

AC02-05CH11231

Resource Type:

Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:

Journal of the Electrochemical Society

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Volume: 166; Journal Issue: 7; Journal ID: ISSN 0013-4651

Publisher:

IOP Publishing - The Electrochemical Society

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

25 ENERGY STORAGE