The Possibility of Intermediate-Temperature (120 °C)-Operated Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells using Perfluorosulfonic Acid Polymer Membranes

The technical possibility and possible issues of an intermediate-temperature-operated polymer electrolyte fuel cell (@120 degrees C) is investigated with an eye toward the launching of new fuel cell heavy-duty vehicles on the world market. Commercial perfluorosulfonic acid membrane and a commercial Pt catalyst supported on carbon are selected to clarify the possible issues in the fuel cells. The cell resistivity at high humidity is less than 0.1 omega cm(-2). The mass activity (@ 0.85 V, Pt loading amount: 0.33 mg(Pt) cm(-2)) approaches 850 A g(Pt) (-1). The high gas crossover rate through the membrane leads to decreased open circuit voltage, which necessitates the use of higher Pt loadings (>0.30 mg(Pt) cm(-2)) at the cathode to mitigate the effect of the mixed potential. Pt degradation during 120 degrees C operation at low humidity is found to be much lower than that during 80 degrees C operation at high humidity based on the results of load-cycle durability testing.

Automated summary

The technical feasibility and potential issues of an intermediate-temperature-operated polymer electrolyte fuel cell are investigated in this study. The results show that selecting appropriate membrane and catalyst can address issues such as cell resistivity, mass activity, and gas crossover rate in fuel cells.