Feasible domain of cycling operating conditions and model parameters for Holby–Morgan model of platinum catalyst degradation in PEMFC

Abstract

In the paper, electrochemical behavior of platinum based cathode catalyst in a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell is studied under non-symmetric square-wave electric potential cycling applied in accelerated stress test. Following the modeling by Holby and Morgan, degradation due to Pt dissolution, ion diffusion, and oxide coverage is performed with respect to cycling operating conditions and model parameters. The computer simulation demonstrates impact of the electrochemical surface area loss rate under variation of the temperature, pH, platinum particle diameter, loading, Pt to Carbon volume fraction, and their simultaneous effect. From physical consistency and multi-parametric sensitivity analysis, a statement on feasible domain of the parameters for the PEMFC operation is concluded.