Abstract
Chemical degradation of perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) membrane is one of the most serious problems for stable and long-term operations of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC). The chemical degradation is caused by the chemical reaction between the PFSA membrane and chemical species such as free radicals. Although chemical degradation of the PFSA membrane has been studied by various experimental techniques, the mechanism of chemical degradation relies much on speculations from ex-situ observations. Recent activities applying theoretical methods such as density functional theory, in situ experimental observation, and mechanistic study by using simplified model compound systems have led to gradual clarification of the atomistic details of the chemical degradation mechanism. In this review paper, we summarize recent reports on the chemical degradation mechanism of the PFSA membrane from an atomistic point of view.
Highlights
The polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) has attracted much interest as a promising power source for automobiles and cogeneration systems because of its high energy conversion efficiency withMembranes 2012, 2 environmental benefits
It is generally believed that the degradation of perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) membrane is caused by the attack of free radicals from hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) [60–78]
We introduced recent studies on the chemical degradation of the PFSA membrane in membrane electrode assemble (MEA) from an atomistic view
Summary
The polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) has attracted much interest as a promising power source for automobiles and cogeneration systems because of its high energy conversion efficiency with. The PEFC system has already been commercialized for residential use under the common name of “Ene-Farm” in Japan in 2009 [1,2]. For larger penetration of PEFC into society, practical long-term operation with a drastic cost reduction is necessary. One of the problems is the durability of the membrane electrode assemble (MEA) [3–9]. Degradations of the Pt electrocatalyst and the membrane are the central issues of MEA degradation. Concerning the loss of electrochemical surface area by Pt dissolution and reprecipitation phenomena of the Pt electrocatalyst during the operation, review papers are to be found based on many studies [10–20]. There are some review papers of membrane degradation for practical applications [21–23]. We focus on the chemical degradation of the membrane in MEA from an atomistic view to facilitate the understanding of the chemical reaction mechanisms of the membrane
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