Electrocatalyst durability testing protocol

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. 

Abstract The durability of fuel cell components constitutes a major barrier towards their financial viabihty. Lifetime requirements include 5000 and 40 000 h for automotive and stationary applications respectively, and thus it is impractical to evaluate fuel cell components lifetime using prolonged time periods. Accelerated durability testing protocols for fuel cell components (proton exchange membrane, electrocatalyst and supports) have been developed to obtain cell component lifetimes in shorter e q)erimental time and are discussed in detail, along with fiiel/air impurities testing protocols. 

Key words proton exchange membrane fuel cells, durability, durability testing protocols, PEM degradation, electrocatalyst degradation, carbon support... 

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