Influence of Carbon Dioxide on the Performance of Anion-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Abstract

The influence of CO2 in the oxidant gas on the cell performance of anion-exchange membrane fuel cells was investigated using a three-electrode single cell with a reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE). The overpotential of the cathode was hardly changed by the presence of CO2, while the overpotential of the anode increased after the introduction of CO2 at the cathode. The high anode overpotential was caused by a high CO32- concentration in the anode catalyst layer, even when most of the CO32- ions in the electrolyte membrane are purged during operation through the self-purging mechanism.