CO-tolerance behaviors of proton exchange membrane fuel cell stacks with impure hydrogen fuel

Carbon monoxide poisoning poses a significant challenge for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells operating with CO-containing hydrogen. One established solution involves air bleeding, a process that enhances the oxidation of carbon monoxide at the anode side of the fuel cell by blending a small quantity of air with the impure hydrogen before its introduction into the fuel cell. However, researchers have raised concerns regarding durability issues about catalyst sintering and membrane decomposition induced by air bleeding. The effects and underlying mechanisms of air bleeding on PEM fuel cells have yet to be comprehensively elucidated. To address this, this study conducts a detailed durability test to quantitatively evaluate the effects of air bleeding on the CO-containing hydrogen-fueled PEM fuel cells via the micro-current excitation method. The investigation substantiates that the PtRu/C catalysts significantly enhance both the performance and durability of fuel cells when air bleeding is employed, exhibiting different CO-tolerance and decay behaviors compared to the Pt/C anode catalyst. Furthermore, the evolution of MEA parameters indicates that the advantageous behaviors of PtRu/C catalysts can be attributed to their CO-tolerance capabilities, alleviated anodic catalyst sintering and loss, and decreased chemical carbon support corrosion and membrane decomposition through diminished hydrogen peroxide generation. This study contributes critical insights and empirical evidence for researchers focusing on CO-tolerant catalyst materials, the durability of PEM fuel cells, and the conversion and utilization of impure hydrogen energy derived from fossil fuels.