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Effect of compression on the performance of a HT-PEM fuel cell

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Abstract

This paper shows by thorough electrochemical investigation that (1) the performances of high-temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies of three suppliers are differently affected by compressive forces. (2) Membrane thickness reduction by compressive pressure takes place less than expected. (3) A contact pressure cycling experiment is a useful tool to distinguish the impact of compression on the contact resistances bipolar plate/gas diffusion layer (GDL) and GDL/catalytic layer. A detailed visual insight into the structural effects of compressive forces on membrane and gas diffusion electrode (GDE) is obtained by micro-computed X-ray tomography (μ-CT). μ-CT imaging confirms that membrane and GDEs undergo severe mechanical stress resulting in performance differences. Irreversible GDL deformation behavior and pinhole formation by GDL fiber penetration into the membrane could be observed.

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Abbreviations

BPP:

Bipolar plate

CCU:

Cell compression unit

CL:

Catalytic layer

CT:

Computed tomography

CV:

Cyclic voltammetry

DPS:

Danish Power Systems

EIS:

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

GDE:

Gas diffusion electrode

GDL:

Gas diffusion layer

IV:

Current–voltage

LSV:

Linear sweep voltammetry

MPL:

Microporous layer

HT-PEM:

High-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane

MEA:

Membrane electrode assembly

PBI:

Polybenzimidazole

PEMFC:

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell

PVDF:

Polyvinylidene fluoride

μ-CT:

Micro-computed tomography

SEM:

Scanning electron microscopy

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Nadine Bruns and Stefanie Laue who did an excellent job in the laboratories to gather the data for this publication. We would also like to thank the European Commission as some of this work was supported by the Seventh Framework Program through the project DEMMEA (Grant Agreement Number 245156).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. NEXT ENERGY, EWE Research Centre for Energy Technology at the Carl von Ossietzky University, Carl-von-Ossietzky Str. 15, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany

    Anja Diedrichs, Maren Rastedt, F. Javier Pinar & Peter Wagner

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  1. Anja Diedrichs
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  2. Maren Rastedt
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  3. F. Javier Pinar
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  4. Peter Wagner
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Correspondence to Peter Wagner.

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Diedrichs, A., Rastedt, M., Pinar, F.J. et al. Effect of compression on the performance of a HT-PEM fuel cell. J Appl Electrochem 43, 1079–1099 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-013-0597-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-013-0597-3

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