REDUCED DEGRADATION OF ION-EXCHANGE MEMBRANES IN ELECTROCHEMICAL FUEL CELLS

摘要

A significant problem in PEM fuel cell durability is in premature failure of the ion-exchange membrane and in particular by the degradation of the ion- exchange membrane by reactive hydrogen peroxide species. Such degradation ca n be reduced or eliminated by the presence of an additive in the anode, cathod e or ion-exchange membrane. The additive may be a radical scavenger, a membran e cross-linker, a hydrogen peroxide decomposition catalyst and/or a hydrogen peroxide stabilizer. The presence of the additive in the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) may however result in reduced performance of the PEM fuel cel l. Accordingly, it may be desirable to restrict the location of the additive to locations of increased susceptibility to membrane degradation such as the inlet and/or outlet regions of the MEA.