Abstract
To improve the lifetime of proton-exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, it is necessary to get a better understanding of the degradation mechanisms of their perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) electrolyte. In this work, an investigation on the effects of radical attacks (i.e. Fenton’s reagents exposure) was carried out. The results confirmed that the chemical degradation of PFSA depends significantly on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and iron (Fe 2+) concentration and made it possible to optimize the degradation rate. Secondly, a specific custom-made device was developed to examine the impact of coupled chemical and mechanical degradations. The results showed that a cyclic mechanical stress leads to an accelerated chemical decomposition.
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