High-Repetitive Reversal Tolerant Performance of Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell by Designing a Suitable Anode

Abstract

Hydrogen starvation of the proton-exchange membrane fuel cell can result in high positive anode potentials followed by cell voltage reversal, which causes water electrolysis and carbon corrosion. A common material-based method is to adopt water electrolysis catalysts to promote water electrolysis over carbon corrosion. While, the membrane electrode assembly shows poor-repetitive reversal performance as the fuel starvation tests are repeated in the previous studies. Herein, IrO2/RuO2 nanocomposites are prepared by a modified Adams method and characterized by physical and electrochemical measurement. Then, the as-prepared IrO2/RuO2 is used as an oxygen evolution reaction catalyst in reversal tolerant anodes, and the results exhibit an unexpected repetitive reversal tolerant performance with the voltage reversal times become longer as the increase of fuel starvation tests.