A review on the Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell break-in physical principles, activation procedures, and characterization methods

The proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is an emission-free alternative to the internal combustion engine. Post-assembly, a PEMFC must be “activated’, elevate and stabilize its performance reproducible threshold value. This procedure costly, time-consuming, not suited for mass-production. paper provides detailed review of break-in physical principles, activation procedures characterization methods. First, all sparse knowledge from literature translated into set mechanisms. Activating mainly alters electrode assembly morphology (e.g. catalyst layer porosity, size, shape activity, polymer chain orientation). Second, in-depth analysis off methods provided. Cell components can pre-activated using steam, acid, plasma or through compression. Dynamic, high temperature/pressure supersaturated operation promote kinetics. Generating oxidizing reducing conditions essential, achievable by short circuit, Cyclic Voltammetry, cathode starvation reactant switch. Uniform over surface obtained with gas flow direction reversal hydrogen pumping. Compression cycles minimize contact resistances. Finally, deficiencies conventional (to measure impact on durability) are highlighted. Better reproducibility advanced electrochemical characterization, post-mortem output species analysis.