Modeling degradation mechanisms of a platinum based catalyst layer in a HT-PEMFC: A 3D numerical study
C. Raga, M. Montiel, R. Losantos, R. Mustata, L. Valiño,
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 83 (2024) 51–69
This paper presents a comprehensive numerical investigation into the degradation mechanisms of High- Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (HT-PEMFCs) with a particular focus on catalyst layer degradation. The study integrates advanced models to accurately describe the electrochemistry of platinum and carbon oxidations, crucial processes influencing the cell’s performance over time. Additionally, a heuristic model is employed to account for the loss of proton conductivity in the membrane attributed to the depletion of phosphoric acid. The degradation processes are seamlessly integrated into a 3D computational code. By utilizing optimized values for the electrochemical parameters, the numerical simulations demonstrate excellent agreement with experimental degradation observed in an HT-PEMFC operating under steady-state conditions. In addition, the numerical approach offers insights that are not easy to achieve by experimental means, such as the equilibrium of the different oxidation states of platinum and carbon.
This paper presents a comprehensive numerical investigation into the degradation mechanisms of High- Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (HT-PEMFCs) with a particular focus on catalyst layer degradation. The study integrates advanced models to accurately describe the electrochemistry of platinum and carbon oxidations, crucial processes influencing the cell’s performance over time. Additionally, a heuristic model is employed to account for the loss of proton conductivity in the membrane attributed to the depletion of phosphoric acid. The degradation processes are seamlessly integrated into a 3D computational code. By utilizing optimized values for the electrochemical parameters, the numerical simulations demonstrate excellent agreement with experimental degradation observed in an HT-PEMFC operating under steady-state conditions. In addition, the numerical approach offers insights that are not easy to achieve by experimental means, such as the equilibrium of the different oxidation states of platinum and carbon.