Abstract
Through plane distribution of cationic contamination on polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) was investigated at a fixed concentration of 5 ppm of Ca2+ in the air stream of an operating fuel cell. A special purpose MEA was prepared using five layers of membrane, and four Pt wires (electrodes) were inserted between the membrane layers. Pt electrodes were used to monitor the through plane potential due to the permeation of hydrogen and oxygen from anode and cathode, respectively and the resistance distribution across the membrane thickness. At the beginning of the test, oxygen permeated from cathode to the first layer of membrane. After 32 hours, oxygen continued to permeate from cathode to the other layers of membrane. The cell performance deteriorated, when CaSO4 solution was injected as a contaminant. Within 21 hours of contaminant injection, the cell voltage dropped more than 200 mV. High frequency resistance (HFR) increased more than 50% in the membrane layer close to the cathode.