High Temperature Operation of a Solid Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Stack Based on a New Ionomer Membrane

Abstract

Abstract Polymer electrolyte fuel cell stacks assembled with Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells and SolviCore MEAs based on the Aquivion™ E79‐03S short‐side chain (SSC), chemically stabilised perfluorosulphonic acid membrane developed by Solvay Solexis were investigated at CNR‐ITAE in the EU Sixth Framework ‘Autobrane' project. Electrochemical experiments in fuel cell short stacks were performed under practical automotive operating conditions at pressures of 1–1.5 bar abs. over a wide temperature range, up to 130 °C, with varying levels of humidity (down to 18% R. H.). The stacks using large area (360 cm 2 ) MEAs showed elevated performance in the temperature range from ambient to 100 °C (cell power density in the range of 600–700 mWcm –2 ) with a moderate decrease above 100 °C. The performances and electrical efficiencies achieved at 110 °C (cell power density of about 400 mWcm –2 at an average cell voltage of about 0.5–0.6 V) are promising for automotive applications. Duty‐cycle and steady‐state galvanostatic experiments showed excellent stack stability for operation at high temperature. A performance comparison of Aquivion TM and Nafion TM ‐based MEAs under practical operating conditions showed a significantly better capability for the Solvay Solexis membrane to sustain high temperature operation.