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Degradation of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane under OCV/Low Humidity Conditions  

Kim, Taehee (Department of Chemical Engineering, Sunchon National University)
Lee, Junghun (Korea Institute of Energy Research)
Lee, Ho (Department of Chemical Engineering, Sunchon National University)
Lim, Tae Won (HMC Eco Technology Research Institute)
Park, Kwonpil (Department of Chemical Engineering, Sunchon National University)
Publication Information
Korean Chemical Engineering Research / v.45, no.4, 2007 , pp. 345-350 More about this Journal
Abstract
During PEMFC operation, OCV(open circuit voltage) and low humidity conditions accelerate the degradation of perfluorosulfonic acid membrane. There have been no studies that clearly explain why these conditions accelerate the membrane degradation. In this study, the hydrogen permeability through the membrane, I-V polarization of MEA, fluoride emission rate(FER) and $H_2O_2$ concentration in condensed water were measured during cell operation under OCV and low relative humidity(RH). The experimental results were evaluated with oxygen radical mechanism the most commonly known for membrane degradation. It seems that low RH of anode is a good condition for $H{\cdot}$ radical formation on the Pt catalyst and the OCV condition accelerate the $H{\cdot}$ to form $HO_2{\cdot}$ radical attacking the polymer membrane.
Keywords
PEMFC; Membrane Degradation; Radical; OCV; Low Relative Humidity;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 2  (Citation Analysis)
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