Relating the N-shaped polarization curve of a PEM fuel cell to local oxygen starvation and hydrogen evolution

verfasst von

Nada Zamel, Richard Hanke-Rauschenbach, Sebastian Kirsch, Arjun Bhattarai, Dietmar Gerteisen

Abstract

In this study, we experimentally investigate the appearance of a local negative differential resistance (N-NDR) branch in polarization curves of a segmented 7 by 7 cell measured under the steady and highly-dynamic conditions. Under both conditions, a comma shaped polarization curve, corresponding to depletion of oxygen, was followed by an increase in current as the cell voltage was lowered. This characteristic was measured under potentiostatic mode, where no current is forced through the cell, and at a positive cell voltage (<100 mV in steady-state and ∼300 mV in dynamic condition). With a theoretical model, we show that at these positive cell voltages and upon the depletion of oxygen, a shift in the Nernst potential occurs allowing for the hydrogen evolution reaction to take place in the cathode catalyst layer. The results of the model are complemented with experimental measurements of produced hydrogen at the cathode outlet.

Externe Organisation(en)

Fraunhofer-Institut für Solare Energiesysteme (ISE)
Max-Planck-Institut für Dynamik komplexer technischer Systeme

Typ

Artikel

Journal

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

Band

38

Seiten

15318-15327

Anzahl der Seiten

10

ISSN

0360-3199

Publikationsdatum

22.11.2013

Publikationsstatus

Veröffentlicht

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Erneuerbare Energien, Nachhaltigkeit und Umwelt, Feuerungstechnik, Physik der kondensierten Materie, Energieanlagenbau und Kraftwerkstechnik

Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung

SDG 7 – Erschwingliche und saubere Energie

Elektronische Version(en)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.09.130 (Zugang: Unbekannt)