Improved electrochemical in-situ characterization of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell stacks

Abstract

In-situ diagnostics for single polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells are well known and established. Comparable stack level techniques are urgently needed to enhance the understanding of degradation during real system operation, but have not yet reached a similar level of sophistication. We have therefore developed a new method for the quantification of the hydrogen crossover current in stacks, which in combination with a previously published technique now allows a clear quantitative characterization of the individual cells' membranes and electrodes. The limits of the reported methods are theoretically assessed and application is then demonstrated on automotive short stacks. The results prove to be highly reproducible and are validated for individual cells of the respective stacks by direct comparison with cyclic voltammetry results, showing good quantitative agreement for the hydrogen crossover current, the double layer capacitance and the electrochemically active surface area.