Pt Redistribution within PEMFC MEAs and its Consequence on their Performances

Marian Chatenet (1) , Elodie Guilminot (1) , Cristina Iojoiu (1) , Jean-Yves Sanchez (1) , Elisabeth Rossinot (2) , Frédéric Maillard (1)

1 LEPMI - Laboratoire d'Electrochimie et de Physico-chimie des Matériaux et des Interfaces
2 Axane

In this paper, we studied the durability of PEMFC MEAs after on-site operation in stationary conditions. Harsh anode and cathode active layer degradation was monitored for Pt, C, F elements by chemical (EDS, XPS) and physical (SEM, TEM) techniques. At the cathode, Pt corrodes into Ptz⁺ species yielding severe redistribution within the MEA. Ptz⁺ dissolution and transport is favoured by activators/ligands (F or S-containing species resulting from the MEA polymers ageing, especially at the anode), which possibly act as counter ions. The presence of Ptz⁺ ions in the membrane favours chain-cutting and induces physical cross-links which modifies its thermo-mechanical, water uptake and conductivity properties. As a result, the risk of pinhole formation is greatly increased.

Domaines: Matériaux

Marian Chatenet, Elodie Guilminot, Cristina Iojoiu, Jean-Yves Sanchez, Elisabeth Rossinot, et al.. Pt Redistribution within PEMFC MEAs and its Consequence on their Performances. ECS Transactions, 2007, 11 (1), p. ⟨10.1149/1.2781034⟩. ⟨hal-00386331⟩