New strategy for reversal tolerant anode for automotive polymer electrolyte fuel cell

Abstract

Since the commercialization of the fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell system has been actively improved as a powertrain for ultimate environment-friendly vehicle. During the FCEV operation, various transient conditions such as start-up/shut-down and fuel starvation occur irregularly, which deteriorates the durability of the membrane electrode assembly. In particular, when fuel starvation occurs, the carbon support in the anode is oxidized within few minutes, thus the mitigation of this phenomenon is essential for securing the durability. This short review introduces the concept of reversal tolerant anode (RTA), which is a mitigation method using an oxygen evolution catalyst and reviews some previous reports. In addition, new approach for RTA suggested by authors recently, which is the replacement of Pt anode catalyst by multifunctional IrRu alloy catalyst that simultaneously exhibits the activities for the hydrogen oxidation reaction and the oxygen evolution reaction is introduced.