600
Views
1
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Review

A focused review of carbon corrosion mechanism in proton exchange membrane fuel cell during start-up and shut-down processes

ORCID Icon &
Pages 3231-3245 | Received 31 Jan 2023, Accepted 16 Mar 2023, Published online: 29 Mar 2023

References

  • Alo, O., I. Otunniyi, H. Pienaar, and S. Iyuke. 2017. Materials for bipolar plates in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell: Performance criteria and current benchmarks. Procedia Manufacturing 7:395–401. doi:10.1016/j.promfg.2016.12.011.
  • Arenz, M., and A. Zana. 2016. Fuel cell catalyst degradation: Identical location electron microscopy and related methods. Nano Energy 29:299–313. doi:10.1016/j.nanoen.2016.04.027.
  • Asri, N. F., T. Husaini, A. B. Sulong, E. H. Majlan, and W. R. W. Daud. 2017. Coating of stainless steel and titanium bipolar plates for anticorrosion in PEMFC: A review. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 42:9135–48. doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.06.241.
  • Carter, R. N., B. K. Brady, K. Subramanian, T. Tighe, and H. A. Gasteiger. 2007. Spatially resolved electrode diagnostic technique for fuel cell applications. ECS Transactions 11:423. doi:10.1149/1.2780956.
  • Castanheira, L., W. O. Silva, F. H. Lima, A. Crisci, L. Dubau, and M. Fdr. 2015. Carbon corrosion in proton-exchange membrane fuel cells: Effect of the carbon structure, the degradation protocol, and the gas atmosphere. ACS Catalysis 5:2184–94. doi:10.1021/cs501973j.
  • Chandran, P., A. Ghosh, and S. Ramaprabhu. 2018. High-performance Platinum-free oxygen reduction reaction and hydrogen oxidation reaction catalyst in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell. Scientific Reports 8:1–11. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-22001-9.
  • Chen, B., J. Wang, T. Yang, Y. Cai, M. Pan, Z. Tu and Yu, Y. 2016. Mitigation studies of carbon corrosion by optimizing the opening size of the cathode outlet in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell with dead-ended anode. Energy Conversion and Management 119:60–66. doi:10.1016/j.enconman.2016.04.043.
  • Chen, B., J. Wang, T. Yang, Y. Cai, C. Zhang, and S. H. Chan, et al. 2016. Carbon corrosion and performance degradation mechanism in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell with dead-ended anode and cathode. Energy 106:54–62. doi:10.1016/j.energy.2016.03.045.
  • Darab, M., A. O. Barnett, G. Lindbergh, M. S. Thomassen, and S. Sunde. 2017. The influence of catalyst layer thickness on the performance and degradation of PEM fuel cell cathodes with constant catalyst loading. Electrochimica acta 232:505–16. doi:10.1016/j.electacta.2017.02.101.
  • Dubau, L., L. Castanheira, G. Berthomé, and F. Maillard. 2013. An identical-location transmission electron microscopy study on the degradation of Pt/C nanoparticles under oxidizing, reducing and neutral atmosphere. Electrochimica acta 110:273–81. doi:10.1016/j.electacta.2013.03.184.
  • Dubau, L., L. Castanheira, M. Chatenet, F. Maillard, J. Dillet, G. Maranzana, S. Abbou, O. Lottin, G. De Moor, A. El Kaddouri, et al. 2014. Carbon corrosion induced by membrane failure: The weak link of PEMFC long-term performance. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 39:21902–14. doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2014.07.099.
  • Durst, J., A. Lamibrac, F. Charlot, J. Dillet, L. F. Castanheira, G. Maranzana, L. Dubau, F. Maillard, M. Chatenet, and O. Lottin. 2013. Degradation heterogeneities induced by repetitive start/stop events in proton exchange membrane fuel cell: Inlet vs. outlet and channel vs. land. Applied Catalysis: B, Environmental 138:416–26. doi:10.1016/j.apcatb.2013.03.021.
  • Dyantyi, N., A. Parsons, C. Sita, and S. Pasupathi. 2017. PEMFC for aeronautic applications: A review on the durability aspects. Open Engineering 7:287–302. doi:10.1515/eng-2017-0035.
  • Guilminot, E., A. Corcella, M. Chatenet, F. Maillard, F. Charlot, G. Berthomé, C. Iojoiu, J. -Y. Sanchez, E. Rossinot, and E. Claude. 2007. Membrane and active layer degradation upon PEMFC steady-state operation: I. platinum dissolution and redistribution within the MEA. Journal of the Electrochemical Society 154:B1106. doi:10.1149/1.2775218.
  • Hagen, A., R. Barfod, P. V. Hendriksen, Y. -L. Liu, and S. Ramousse. 2006. Degradation of anode supported SOFCs as a function of temperature and current load. Journal of the Electrochemical Society 153:A1165. doi:10.1149/1.2193400.
  • Harzer, G. S., J. N. Schwämmlein, A. M. Damjanović, S. Ghosh, and H. A. Gasteiger. 2018. Cathode loading impact on voltage cycling induced PEMFC degradation: A voltage loss analysis. Journal of the Electrochemical Society 165:F3118. doi:10.1149/2.0161806jes.
  • Hegge, F., J. Sharman, R. Moroni, S. Thiele, R. Zengerle, M. Breitwieser, and S. Vierrath. 2019. Impact of carbon support corrosion on performance losses in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. Journal of the Electrochemical Society 166:F956. doi:10.1149/2.0611913jes.
  • Higashi, K., G. Samjeské, S. Takao, T. Kaneko, O. Sekizawa, T. Uruga, and Y. Iwasawa. 2017. The relationship between the active Pt fraction in a PEFC Pt/C catalyst and the ECSA and mass activity during start-up/shut-down degradation by in situ time-resolved XAFS technique. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C 121:22164–77. doi:10.1021/acs.jpcc.7b07264.
  • Hitchcock, A. P., et al. 2014. Carbon corrosion of proton exchange membrane fuel cell catalyst layers studied by scanning transmission X-ray microscopy. Journal of Power Sources 266:66–78. doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2014.04.119.
  • Hodnik, N., et al. 2013. Severe accelerated degradation of PEMFC platinum catalyst: A thin film IL-SEM study. Electrochemistry Communications 30:75–78. doi:10.1016/j.elecom.2013.02.012.
  • Ishigami, Y., K. Takada, H. Yano, J. Inukai, M. Uchida, Y. Nagumo, T. Hyakutake, H. Nishide, and M. Watanabe. 2011. Corrosion of carbon supports at cathode during hydrogen/air replacement at anode studied by visualization of oxygen partial pressures in a PEFC—Start-up/shut-down simulation. Journal of Power Sources 196:3003–08. doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2010.11.092.
  • Jang, J., M. Sharma, D. Choi, Y. S. Kang, Y. Kim, J. Min, H. Sung, N. Jung, and S. J. Yoo. 2019. Boosting fuel cell durability under shut-down/start-up conditions using a hydrogen oxidation-selective metal–carbon hybrid core–shell catalyst. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 11:27735–42. doi:10.1021/acsami.9b06309.
  • Kim, T., Y. Kwon, S. Kwon, and J. G. Seo. 2020. Substrate effect of platinum-decorated carbon on enhanced hydrogen oxidation in PEMFC. ACS Omega 5:26902–07. doi:10.1021/acsomega.0c04131.
  • Kim, J., J. Lee, and Y. Tak. 2009. Relationship between carbon corrosion and positive electrode potential in a proton-exchange membrane fuel cell during start/stop operation. Journal of Power Sources 192:674–78. doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2009.03.039.
  • Lanzini, A., P. Leone, and P. Asinari. 2009. Microstructural characterization of solid oxide fuel cell electrodes by image analysis technique. Journal of Power Sources 194:408–22. doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2009.04.062.
  • Li, W., and A. M. Lane. 2009. Investigation of Pt catalytic effects on carbon support corrosion of the cathode catalyst in PEM fuel cells using DEMS spectra. Electrochemistry Communications 11:1187–90. doi:10.1016/j.elecom.2009.04.001.
  • Lim, K. H., W. H. Lee, Y. Jeong, and H. Kim. 2017. Analysis of carbon corrosion in anode under fuel starvation using on-line mass spectrometry in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. Journal of the Electrochemical Society 164:F1580. doi:10.1149/2.0731714jes.
  • Lin, R., X. Cui, J. Shan, L. Técher, F. Xiong, and Q. Zhang. 2015. Investigating the effect of start-up and shut-down cycles on the performance of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell by segmented cell technology. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 40:14952–62. doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2015.09.042.
  • Linse, N., C. Aellig, A. Wokaun, G. G. Scherer, and L. Gubler. 2009. Influence of operating parameters on start/stop induced degradation in polymer electrolyte fuel cells. ECS Transactions 25:1849. doi:10.1149/1.3210740.
  • Linse, N., G. G. Scherer, A. Wokaun, and L. Gubler. 2012. Quantitative analysis of carbon corrosion during fuel cell start-up and shut-down by anode purging. Journal of Power Sources 219:240–48. doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2012.07.037.
  • Liu, Z., B. Brady, R. Carter, B. Litteer, M. Budinski, J. Hyun, and D. A. Muller. 2008. Characterization of carbon corrosion-induced structural damage of PEM fuel cell cathode electrodes caused by local fuel starvation. Journal of the Electrochemical Society 155:B979. doi:10.1149/1.2956198.
  • Liu, Z., J. Zhang, P. Yu, J. Zhang, R. Makharia, K. More, and E. A. Stach. 2010. Transmission electron microscopy observation of corrosion behaviors of platinized carbon blacks under thermal and electrochemical conditions. Journal of the Electrochemical Society 157:B906. doi:10.1149/1.3391737.
  • Maass, S., F. Finsterwalder, G. Frank, R. Hartmann, and C. Merten. 2008. Carbon support oxidation in PEM fuel cell cathodes. Journal of Power Sources 176:444–51. doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2007.08.053.
  • Macauley, N., D. D. Papadias, J. Fairweather, D. Spernjak, D. Langlois, R. Ahluwalia, K. L. More, R. Mukundan, and R. L. Borup. 2018. Carbon corrosion in PEM fuel cells and the development of accelerated stress tests. Journal of the Electrochemical Society 165:F3148–60. doi:10.1149/2.0061806jes.
  • Mandal, P., B. K. Hong, J. -G. Oh, and S. Litster. 2018. Understanding the voltage reversal behavior of automotive fuel cells. Journal of Power Sources 397:397–404. doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2018.06.083.
  • Mathur, R., P. H. Maheshwari, T. Dhami, and R. Tandon. 2007. Characteristics of the carbon paper heat-treated to different temperatures and its influence on the performance of PEM fuel cell. Electrochimica acta 52:4809–17. doi:10.1016/j.electacta.2007.01.041.
  • Mittermeier, T., A. Weiß, F. Hasché, and H. A. Gasteiger. 2018. PEM fuel cell start-Up/shut-down losses vs relative humidity: The impact of water in the electrode layer on carbon corrosion. Journal of the Electrochemical Society 165:F1349. doi:10.1149/2.0931816jes.
  • Nabae, Y., S. Nagata, T. Hayakawa, H. Niwa, Y. Harada, M. Oshima, A. Isoda, A. Matsunaga, K. Tanaka, and T. Aoki. 2016. Pt-free carbon-based fuel cell catalyst prepared from spherical polyimide for enhanced oxygen diffusion. Scientific Reports 6:1–7. doi:10.1038/srep23276.
  • Norouzifard, V., and M. Bahrami. 2014. Deformation of PEM fuel cell gas diffusion layers under compressive loading: An analytical approach. Journal of Power Sources 264:92–99. doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2014.04.057.
  • Ofstad, A., J. Davey, S. Sunde, and R. L. Borup. 2008. Carbon corrosion of a PEMFC during shut-down/start-up when using an air purge procedure. ECS Transactions 16:1301. doi:10.1149/1.2981971.
  • Okonkwo, P. C., O. O. Ige, P. C. Uzoma, W. Emori, A. Benamor, A. M. Abdullah, and A. M. Abdullah. 2021. Platinum degradation mechanisms in proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system: A review. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 46:15850–65. doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2021.02.078.
  • Okonkwo, P. C., and C. Otor. 2020. A review of gas diffusion layer properties and water management in proton exchange membrane fuel cell system. International Journal of Energy Research 45:3780–800. doi:10.1002/er.6227.
  • Park, J. -H., et al. 2012. Understanding the mechanism of membrane electrode assembly degradation by carbon corrosion by analyzing the microstructural changes in the cathode catalyst layers and polarization losses in proton exchange membrane fuel cell. Electrochimica acta 83:294–304. doi:10.1016/j.electacta.2012.07.117.
  • Park, Y. -C., K. Kakinuma, M. Uchida, D. A. Tryk, T. Kamino, H. Uchida and Watanabe, M. 2013. Investigation of the corrosion of carbon supports in polymer electrolyte fuel cells using simulated start-up/shutdown cycling. Electrochimica acta 91:195–207. doi:10.1016/j.electacta.2012.12.082.
  • Park, Y. -C., K. Kakinuma, M. Uchida, H. Uchida, and M. Watanabe. 2014. Deleterious effects of interim cyclic voltammetry on Pt/carbon black catalyst degradation during start-up/shutdown cycling evaluation. Electrochimica acta 123:84–92. doi:10.1016/j.electacta.2013.12.120.
  • Paul, T. Y., et al. 2009. Carbon-support requirements for highly durable fuel cell operation. Polymer electrolyte fuel cell durability, 29–53. Springer.
  • Paul, T. Y., W. Gu, R. Makharia, F. T. Wagner, and H. A. Gasteiger. 2006. The impact of carbon stability on PEM fuel cell startup and shutdown voltage degradation. ECS Transactions 3:797. doi:10.1149/1.2356199.
  • Pei, P., Q. Chang, and T. Tang. 2008. A quick evaluating method for automotive fuel cell lifetime. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 33:3829–36. doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2008.04.048.
  • Peron, J., A. Mani, X. Zhao, D. Edwards, M. Adachi, T. Soboleva, Z. Shi, Z. Xie, T. Navessin, and S. Holdcroft. 2010. Properties of Nafion® NR-211 membranes for PEMFCs. Journal of Membrane Science 356:44–51. doi:10.1016/j.memsci.2010.03.025.
  • Péron, J., Y. Nedellec, D. J. Jones, and J. Roziére. 2008. The effect of dissolution, migration and precipitation of platinum in Nafion®-based membrane electrode assemblies during fuel cell operation at high potential. Journal of Power Sources 185:1209–17. doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2008.06.098.
  • Prithi, J., R. Vedarajan, G. R. Rao, and N. Rajalakshmi. 2021. Functionalization of carbons for Pt electrocatalyst in PEMFC. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 46:17871–85. doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2021.02.186.
  • Randrianarizafy, B., P. Schott, M. Gerard, and Y. Bultel. 2020. Modelling carbon corrosion during a PEMFC startup: Simulation of mitigation strategies. Energies 13:2338. doi:10.3390/en13092338.
  • Reiser, C. A., L. Bregoli, T. W. Patterson, S. Y. Jung, J. D. Yang, M. L. Perry, and T. D. Jarvi. 2005. A reverse-current decay mechanism for fuel cells. Electrochemical and Solid-State Letters 8:A273. doi:10.1149/1.1896466.
  • Roen, L., C. Paik, and T. Jarvi. 2003. Electrocatalytic corrosion of carbon support in PEMFC cathodes. Electrochemical and Solid State Letters 7:A19. doi:10.1149/1.1630412.
  • Serp, P., and J. L. Figueiredo. 2009. Carbon materials for catalysis. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.
  • Shen, Q., M. Hou, D. Liang, Z. Zhou, X. Li, Z. Shao, and B. Yi. 2009. Study on the processes of start-up and shutdown in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Journal of Power Sources 189:1114–19. doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2008.12.075.
  • Siroma, Z., K. Ishii, K. Yasuda, M. Inaba, and A. Tasaka. 2007. Stability of platinum particles on a carbon substrate investigated by atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Journal of Power Sources 171:524–29. doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2007.06.016.
  • Song, W., H. Yu, Z. Shao, B. Yi, J. Lin, and N. Liu. 2014. Effect of polytetrafluoroethylene distribution in the gas diffusion layer on water flooding in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Chinese Journal of Catalysis 35:468–73. doi:10.1016/S1872-2067(14)60014-0.
  • Stevens, D., M. Hicks, G. Haugen, and J. Dahn. 2005. Ex situ and in situ stability studies of PEMFC catalysts: Effect of carbon type and humidification on degradation of the carbon. Journal of the Electrochemical Society 152:A2309. doi:10.1149/1.2097361.
  • Sun, W., B. A. Peppley, and K. Karan. 2005. Modeling the influence of GDL and flow-field plate parameters on the reaction distribution in the PEMFC cathode catalyst layer. Journal of Power Sources 144:42–53. doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2004.11.035.
  • Takao, S., O. Sekizawa, G. Samjeské, T. Kaneko, K. Higashi, Y. Yoshida and Iwasawa, Y. 2018. Observation of degradation of Pt and carbon support in polymer electrolyte fuel cell using combined nano-X-ray absorption fine structure and transmission electron microscopy Techniques. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 10:27734–44. doi:10.1021/acsami.8b04407.
  • Takeuchi, N., and T. F. Fuller. 2008. Modeling and investigation of design factors and their impact on carbon corrosion of PEMFC electrodes. Journal of the Electrochemical Society 155:B770. doi:10.1149/1.2926553.
  • Tang, H., Z. Qi, M. Ramani, and J. F. Elter. 2006. PEM fuel cell cathode carbon corrosion due to the formation of air/fuel boundary at the anode. Journal of Power Sources 158:1306–12. doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2005.10.059.
  • Taniguchi, A., T. Akita, K. Yasuda, and Y. Miyazaki. 2008. Analysis of degradation in PEMFC caused by cell reversal during air starvation. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 33:2323–29. doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2008.02.049.
  • Trogadas, P., T. F. Fuller, and P. Strasser. 2014. Carbon as catalyst and support for electrochemical energy conversion. Carbon 75:5–42. doi:10.1016/j.carbon.2014.04.005.
  • Tu, Z., X. Yu Development of the compact high-power density air-cooled proton exchange fuel cell stack by using ultrathin steel bipolar plates. Available at SSRN 4157518.
  • Van Cleve, T., G. Wang, M. Mooney, C. F. Cetinbas, N. Kariuki, J. Park and Neyerlin, K. C. 2021. Tailoring electrode microstructure via ink content to enable improved rated power performance for platinum cobalt/high surface area carbon based polymer electrolyte fuel cells. Journal of Power Sources 482:228889. doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2020.228889.
  • Wang, J., G. Yin, Y. Shao, S. Zhang, Z. Wang, and Y. Gao. 2007. Effect of carbon black support corrosion on the durability of Pt/C catalyst. Journal of Power Sources 171:331–39. doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2007.06.084.
  • Wlodarczyk, R. 2019. Carbon-based materials for bipolar plates for low-temperatures PEM fuel cells—a review. Functional Materials Letters 12:1930001. doi:10.1142/S1793604719300019.
  • Wu, B., M. Matian, and G. J. Offer. 2012. Hydrogen PEMFC system for automotive applications. International Journal of Low-Carbon Technologies 7:28–37. doi:10.1093/ijlct/ctr026.
  • Xie, F., Z. Shao, M. Hou, H. Yu, W. Song, S. Sun and Yi, B. 2019. Recent progresses in H2-PEMFC at DICP. Journal of Energy Chemistry 36:129–40. doi:10.1016/j.jechem.2019.07.012.
  • Xu, Z., D. Qiu, P. Yi, L. Peng, and X. Lai. 2020. Towards mass applications: A review on the challenges and developments in metallic bipolar plates for PEMFC. Progress in Natural Science: Materials International 30:815–24. doi:10.1016/j.pnsc.2020.10.015.
  • Young, A., J. Stumper, and E. Gyenge. 2009. Characterizing the structural degradation in a PEMFC cathode catalyst layer: Carbon corrosion. Journal of the Electrochemical Society 156:B913. doi:10.1149/1.3139963.
  • Yu, X., H. Chang, X. Luo, and Z. Tu. 2022. Experimental study on the dynamic performance of an air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack with ultra-thin metal bipolar plate. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 47:36204–15. doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2022.08.177.
  • Yu, Y., H. Li, H. Wang, X. -Z. Yuan, G. Wang, and M. Pan. 2012. A review on performance degradation of proton exchange membrane fuel cells during startup and shutdown processes: Causes, consequences, and mitigation strategies. Journal of Power Sources 205:10–23. doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2012.01.059.
  • Yu, X., X. Luo, and Z. Tu. 2023. Development of a compact high-power density air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack with ultrathin steel bipolar plates. Energy 126936. doi:10.1016/j.energy.2023.126936.
  • Zhao, J., Z. Tu, and S. H. Chan. 2021. Carbon corrosion mechanism and mitigation strategies in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC): A review. Journal of Power Sources 488:229434. doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2020.229434.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.