Durability and Accelerated Stress Testing

In the past few years, many AST methods used for individual components have been developed, but they tend not to conform to standardized protocols different developers test products using their own protocols, and the operating conditions used to study the degradation mechanisms and durability of various components 

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) and the Freedom CAR Fuel Cell Technical Team have recently released a set of durability-test protocols that includes tests of electrocatalysts (see Table 23.1) and of electrocatalyst supports (see Table 23.2) as well as other components [44]. The documents describe testing protocols to assess the performance and durability of fuel cell components for automotive and stationary applications. These protocols are intended to establish a common approach for determining and projecting the durability of PEMFC components under simulated automotive drive cycle conditions. 

Catalytic activity Beginning and End of Life 60% mass loss of initial catalytic activity 

ECSA/Cyclic Voltammetry After 1,10, 30, 100, 1000, 3000 cycles and every 5000 cycles therefater 40% loss of initial area 

The actual lifetime of a fuel cell in a vehiele undergoing driving and start/stop cycles may or may not be accurately predieted by these protoeols. More studies are needed to link the AST results to the aetual lifetime, ineluding identifying failures, understanding failure mechanisms, and modeling data to prediet the lifetime of products. 

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