Poisoning Effects of Cerium Oxide (CeO2) on the Performance of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs)

In this study, the poisoning effects of cerium oxide (CeO2) as contaminant on performance proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are evaluated. An experimental setup was developed to analyze characteristic (I-V) curves in contaminated and non-contaminated conditions. Focused ion-beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) cross-section images were obtained an input for energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. The results EDX analysis verified presence CeO2 electrode assembly (MEA), addition fluorine sulfur. also revealed that a result contamination, sulfur would be distributed all around MEA, instead being only membrane. illustrate hydrofluoric acid (HF), sulfuric (H2SO4), fluorinated polymer fragments released, which enhance crossover reactant gases through membrane, hence reducing cell’s performance. I-V proved PEMFC had double PEMFC.