Fuel cell platinum catalyst stabilization: load-sharing method to extend PEFC lifetime

The problem

Industries like heavy-duty transportation, for which fuel cell electric vehicles provide inherent advantages over battery electric vehicles due to high weight and energy requirements, often utilize hydrogen polymer electrolyte fuel cells (H2-PEFCs). Such H2-PEFCs often utilize platinum catalysts to catalyze redox reactions at the fuel cell cathode, but platinum group metals are unstable for long cycling operations and lose the ability to catalyze redox reactions effectively after >100k cycles/

The solution

Researchers at the University of Tennessee have developed a method to extend the lifetime of PEFCs by between 50 and 200% in vehicle applications. The method does so by implementing a novel "load sharing" approach between the air and hydrogen sides of the fuel cell to balance out relative levels of catalyst degradation and extend the operational lifetime of the cell.

Benefits

• Will result in between 50% and 200% extended operational lifetime of the fuel cell in vehicle applications.
• Negligible change in open circuit voltage after 400 hours of operation (147mV improvement over traditional design).
• Negligible voltage crossover increase after 400 hours of operation (155 mA/cm^2 improvement over traditional design).