In situ electrochemical and mechanical accelerated stress tests of a gas diffusion layer for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Dongguk Joo; Kookil Han; Jong Hyun Jang; Sehkyu Park

Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering, Vol.36, No.2, 299-304, February, 2019

DOI10.1007/s11814-019-0223-0 Export Citation

In situ electrochemical and mechanical accelerated stress tests of a gas diffusion layer for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Dongguk Joo^{1, 2}, Kookil Han³, Jong Hyun Jang^{2, †}, and Sehkyu Park^{1, †}

¹Department of Chemical Engineering, Kwangwoon University, 20 Kwangwoon-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul 01897, Korea
²Fuel Cell Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), 5 Hwarangno 14-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Korea
³Fuel Cell Technology Development Team, Eco Technology Center, Hyundai & Kia Motors, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 16891, Korea

E-mail:,

This study proposes an in situ accelerated stress test of a gas diffusion layer (GDL) at a gas-solution-electrode triple phase boundary to individually examine electrochemical and mechanical GDL aging for the first time. Electrochemical GDL stability during repeated potential jumps and mechanical GDL robustness during inert gas permeation were investigated. A Pt-loaded GDL was used to mimic a GDL in contact with Pt particles at the cathode. It was also used to evaluate GDL degradation during an accelerated stress test. In this study, the GDL that experienced an electrochemical stress of potential jumps up to 1.75 V for 27.8 h exhibited 2.9-fold and 4-fold higher losses in electrochemical surface area and oxygen reduction current, respectively, than did one eroded by Ar permeation at 325 cm3 min-1 for 100 h.

Keywords:Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell;Gas Diffusion Layer;In situ Accelerated Stress Test;Electrochemical and Mechanical Degradation

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Kazeminasab B, Rowshanzamir S, Ghadamian H, Korean J. Chem. Eng., 34(11), 2978 (2017)
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Park S, Shao Y, Wan H, Viswanathan VV, Towne SA, Rieke PC, Liu J, Wang Y, J. Phys. Chem. C, 115, 22633 (2011)
Wang H, Cote R, Faubert G, Guay D, Dodelet JP, J. Phys. Chem. B, 103(12), 2042 (1999)
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[3] Park S, Shao Y, Liu J, Wang Y, Energy Environ. Sci., 5, 9331 (2012)

[4] Park S, Shao Y, Viswanathan VV, Liu J, Wang Y, J. Ind. Eng. Chem., 42, 81 (2016)

[5] Prasanna D, Selvaraj V, Korean J. Chem. Eng., 33(4), 1489 (2016)

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[7] Kazeminasab B, Rowshanzamir S, Ghadamian H, Korean J. Chem. Eng., 34(11), 2978 (2017)

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[9] Wu JF, Yuan XZ, Martin JJ, Wang HJ, Zhang JJ, Shen J, Wu SH, Merida W, J. Power Sources, 184(1), 104 (2008)

[10] Horn YS, Sheng WC, Chen S, Ferreira PJ, Holby EF, Morgan D, Top. Catal., 46, 285 (2007)

[11] Yu XW, Ye SY, J. Power Sources, 172(1), 145 (2007)

[12] Yu S, Li X, Liu S, Hao J, Shao Z, Yi B, RSC Adv., 4, 3852 (2014)

[13] Reiser CA, Bregoli L, Patterson TW, Yi JS, Yang JD, Perry ML, Jarvi TD, J. Electrochem. Soc., 8, A273 (2005)

[14] Tang H, Qi ZG, Ramani M, Elter JF, J. Power Sources, 158(2), 1306 (2006)

[15] Jia F, Liu FF, Guo LJ, Liu HT, Int. J. Hydrog. Energy, 41(15), 6469 (2016)

[16] Yamashita Y, Itami S, Takano J, Kakinuma K, Uchida H, Watanabe M, Iiyama A, Uchida M, J. Electrochem. Soc., 164(4), F181 (2017)

[17] Chen GB, Zhang HM, Ma HP, Zhong HX, Int. J. Hydrog. Energy, 34(19), 8185 (2009)

[18] Roen LM, Paik CH, Jarvi TD, J. Electrochem. Soc., 7, A19 (2004)

[19] Nitta I, Hottinen T, Himanen O, Mikkola M, J. Power Sources, 171(1), 26 (2007)

[20] Chang WR, Hwang JJ, Weng FB, Chan SH, J. Power Sources, 166(1), 149 (2007)

[21] Chun JH, Jo DH, Kim SG, Park SH, Lee CH, Kim SH, Renew. Energy, 48, 35 (2012)

[22] Srivastava R, Mani P, Hahn N, Strasser P, Angew. Chem.-Int. Edit., 46, 8988 (2007)

[23] Das E, Gursel SA, Sanh LI, Yurtcan AB, Int. J. Hydrog. Energy, 42, 19426 (2017)

[24] Zhao J, Shahgaldi S, Alaefour I, Xu Q, Li XG, Appl. Energy, 209, 203 (2018)

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[26] Omura J, Yano H, Watanabe M, Uchida H, Langmuir, 27(10), 6464 (2011)

[27] Vielstich W, Fuel Cells: Modern Processes for the Electrochemical Production of Energy, John Wiley & Sons, New York (1970).

[28] Bard AJ, Faulkner LR, Electrochemical methods, John Wiley & Sons, New York (1980).

[29] Park S, Shao Y, Wan H, Viswanathan VV, Towne SA, Rieke PC, Liu J, Wang Y, J. Phys. Chem. C, 115, 22633 (2011)

[30] Wang H, Cote R, Faubert G, Guay D, Dodelet JP, J. Phys. Chem. B, 103(12), 2042 (1999)

[31] Yue ZR, Jiang W, Wang L, Gardner SD, Pittman CU, Carbon, 37, 1785 (1999)

[32] Gulyas J, Foldes E, Lazar A, Pukanszky B, Compos. Pt. A-Appl. Sci. Manuf., 32, 353 (2001)

[33] Sheng W, Zhuang Z, Gao M, Zheng J, Chen JG, Yan Y, Nat. Commun., 6, 5848 (2015)

[34] Sugawara Y, Okayasu T, Yadav AP, Nishikata A, Tsuru T, J. Electrochem. Soc., 159(11), F779 (2012)

[35] Hasche F, Oezaslan M, Strasser P, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 12, 15251 (2010)