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Nonlinear frequency response analysis for the diagnosis of carbon monoxide poisoning in PEM fuel cell anodes

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Abstract

Anodic CO poisoning of a PEMFC was analysed by nonlinear frequency response analysis (NFRA) in a differential H2/H2 cell. This special experimental setup excluded potential masking effects, emphasised the main mechanism of CO poisoning and made a simplified modelling approach possible. The main features of CO poisoning were investigated by means of steady state polarisation, EIS and NFRA. The main characteristics of CO poisoning in the NFRA spectra can be used as a “fingerprint” for diagnostic purposes.

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Abbreviations

\( a_{{{\text{H}}_{{\text{2}}} {\text{O}}}}\) :

Activity of water, [0 … 1]

A :

Amplitude, A m−2

b c/h :

Tafel slope of CO or hydrogen electrooxidation, V

b fc/fh :

Ratio of desorption to adsorption rate constant for CO or hydrogen, [0 … 1]

C DL,A/C :

Anodic or cathodic double layer capacity, F \({\text m}^{-2}_{\text {act}}\)

d M :

Thickness of the membrane, m

F :

Faraday constant, 96485.3 A s mol−1

k ec/eh :

Rate constant of CO or hydrogen electrooxidation, mol \({\text m}^{-2}_{\text {act}}\) s−1

k fc/fh :

Rate constant of CO or hydrogen adsorption, mol \({\text m}^{-2}_{\text {act}}\) s−1

i :

Current density, A m−2

p :

Number of affected sites for Temkin adsorption

p A :

Pressure at the anode, Pa

r ads/des/oxCO/H :

Rates of CO or hydrogen adsorption, desorption or oxidation, mol \({\text m}^{-2}_{\text {act}}\) s−1

R M :

Membrane resistance, \(\Upomega\, \hbox{m}^{-2}_{geom}\)

U cell :

Cell voltage, V

x CO/H :

Mole fraction of CO or hydrogen, [0… 1]

\( \delta(\Updelta G_{\text{CO}}) \) :

Variation of adsorption free energy between \(\Uptheta_{\text{CO}}=0\) and \(\Uptheta_{\text{CO}}=1, \hbox{J mol}^{-1}\)

\( \delta(\Updelta E_H) \) :

Change in activation energy for hydrogen dissociative adsorption near CO occupied site, J mol−1

\( \epsilon \) :

Roughness factor, \({\text m}^{2}_{\text {act}}\,{\text m}^{-2}_{\text {geom}}\)

ηA/C :

Anode or cathode overpotential, V

\( \Uptheta_{\text{CO/H}} \) :

Coverage of catalyst with CO or hydrogen, [0 … 1]

\( \Uptheta_{\text{Pt}} \) :

Free active Pt catalyst sites, [0 … 1]

κ:

Conductivity of the membrane, S m−1

ρ:

Molar area density of active sites, mol \({\text m}^{-2}_{\text {act}}\)

0:

Reference conditions

A :

Anode

act :

Active area

C :

Cathode

CO:

Carbon monoxide

eh :

Electrooxidation of hydrogen

ec :

Electrooxidation of carbon monoxide

fh :

Adsorption of hydrogen

fc :

Adsorption of carbon monoxide

geom :

Geometric area

H:

Hydrogen

H2O:

Water

Pt:

Platinum

ads :

Adsorption

des :

Desorption

ox :

Oxidation

red :

Reduction

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, Sandtorstrasse 1, 39106, Magdeburg, Germany

    Thomas Kadyk, Richard Hanke-Rauschenbach & Kai Sundmacher

  2. Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Universitätsplatz 1, 39106, Magdeburg, Germany

    Thomas Kadyk & Kai Sundmacher

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  1. Thomas Kadyk
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  2. Richard Hanke-Rauschenbach
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Correspondence to Richard Hanke-Rauschenbach.

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Kadyk, T., Hanke-Rauschenbach, R. & Sundmacher, K. Nonlinear frequency response analysis for the diagnosis of carbon monoxide poisoning in PEM fuel cell anodes. J Appl Electrochem 41, 1021–1032 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-011-0298-8

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