Effect of Anode Catalyst Support on MEA Degradation Caused by Hydrogen-Starved Operation of a PEFC

Abstract

The effect of different anode catalysts on mitigating the performance degradation caused by hydrogen-starved operation of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell was made clear. The tested catalysts included ones fabricated on highly anti-corrosive supports such as graphitized carbon and carbon-free catalysts like platinum black, which were used in place of conventional carbon black-supported platinum catalysts. The diagnostic techniques used in this study such as AC impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and gas chromatography measurement revealed that performance degradation induced by carbon corrosion mainly occurred only at the anode catalyst.