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Modelling and simulation of the degradation of perfluorinated ion-exchange membranes in PEM fuel cells

Modelling and simulation of the degradation of perfluorinated ion-exchange membranes in PEM fuel cells
Modelling and simulation of the degradation of perfluorinated ion-exchange membranes in PEM fuel cells
A polymer-electrolyte membrane fuel cell model that incorporates chemical degradation in perlfluorinated sulfonic acid membranes is developed. The model is based on conservation principles and includes a detailed description of the transport phenomena. A degradation sub-model describes the formation of hydrogen peroxide \/\it via\/ distinct mechanisms in the cathode and anode, together with the subsequent formation of radicals \/\it via\/ Fenton reactions involving metal-ion impurities. The radicals participate in the decomposition of reactive end groups to form carboxylic acid, hydrogen fluoride and CO_2. Degradation proceeds through unzipping of the polymer backbone and cleavage of the side chains. Simulations are presented and the numerical code is shown to be extremely time efficient. Known trends with respect to operating conditions are qualitatively captured and the exhibited behaviour is shown to be robust to changes in the rate constants. The feasibility of a chemical degradation mechanism based on peroxide and radical formation is discussed.
pfsa membrane degradation, modelling and simulation, pem fuel cell, peroxide, radical formation, unzipping, side chain cleavage
0013-4651
B465-B484
Shah, A.A
5c43ac37-c4a7-4256-88ef-8c427886b924
Ralph, T.R.
0355aa4e-9c24-44a4-afe4-2ce653fe79fd
Walsh, F.C.
309528e7-062e-439b-af40-9309bc91efb2
Shah, A.A
5c43ac37-c4a7-4256-88ef-8c427886b924
Ralph, T.R.
0355aa4e-9c24-44a4-afe4-2ce653fe79fd
Walsh, F.C.
309528e7-062e-439b-af40-9309bc91efb2

Shah, A.A, Ralph, T.R. and Walsh, F.C. (2009) Modelling and simulation of the degradation of perfluorinated ion-exchange membranes in PEM fuel cells. Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 156 (4), B465-B484. (doi:10.1149/1.3077573).

Record type: Article

Abstract

A polymer-electrolyte membrane fuel cell model that incorporates chemical degradation in perlfluorinated sulfonic acid membranes is developed. The model is based on conservation principles and includes a detailed description of the transport phenomena. A degradation sub-model describes the formation of hydrogen peroxide \/\it via\/ distinct mechanisms in the cathode and anode, together with the subsequent formation of radicals \/\it via\/ Fenton reactions involving metal-ion impurities. The radicals participate in the decomposition of reactive end groups to form carboxylic acid, hydrogen fluoride and CO_2. Degradation proceeds through unzipping of the polymer backbone and cleavage of the side chains. Simulations are presented and the numerical code is shown to be extremely time efficient. Known trends with respect to operating conditions are qualitatively captured and the exhibited behaviour is shown to be robust to changes in the rate constants. The feasibility of a chemical degradation mechanism based on peroxide and radical formation is discussed.

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Submitted date: 1 September 2008
Published date: 12 February 2009
Keywords: pfsa membrane degradation, modelling and simulation, pem fuel cell, peroxide, radical formation, unzipping, side chain cleavage

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 65544
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/65544
ISSN: 0013-4651
PURE UUID: 77fc29a3-22ac-42b1-a626-2fe2db0d78a7

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Date deposited: 18 Feb 2009
Last modified: 13 Mar 2024 17:45

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Contributors

Author: A.A Shah
Author: T.R. Ralph
Author: F.C. Walsh

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