Method for reducing degradation in a fuel cell
View Patent ↗The invention is a method of reducing catalyst dissolution in the cathode of a membrane electrode assembly fuel cell, the method comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a membrane electrode assembly comprising an anode, a cathode and a polymer electrolyte membrane interposed between the anode and the cathode; (b) assembling a fuel cell using the membrane electrode assembly; (c) applying a fluid comprising an oxidant to the cathode of the membrane electrode assembly; (d) applying a fluid comprising a fuel to the anode of the membrane electrode assembly; and (e) supplying a sufficient quantity of reducing agent to the cathode to maintain the average open-circuit voltage of the cathode at less than about 0.98 V.
1. A method to remove electrodes from a membrane electrode assembly, said method comprising
a. Dipping the MEA into a solvent for a period of time less than 5 minutes;
b. Gently agitating and optionally gently rubbing said MEA while in said solvent to remove electrodes from the electrolyte of said MEA;
c. Removing said electrolyte from said solvent to dry.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said solvent is an alcohol.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein said solvent is ethanol.
4. The method of claim 1 comprising an additional step of rinsing said electrolyte in water prior to drying.
5. The method of claim 1 comprising the additional step of collecting the electrodes from said solvent.
6. A method to remove one electrode from a membrane electrode assembly, said method comprising
a. Gently applying solvent to one electrode of said membrane electrode assembly for a period of time less than 5 minutes;
b. Gently rubbing said electrode to remove it from the membrane;
c. Drying remaining membrane/electrode composite.
7. The method of claim 6 comprising the additional step of rinsing the membrane in water prior to drying.
8. A method to observe Pt dissolution from the electrodes in an MEA, said method comprising
a. Dipping the MEA into a solvent for a period of time less than 5 minutes;
b. Gently agitating and optionally gently rubbing said MEA while in said solvent to remove electrodes from the electrolyte of said MEA;
c. Removing said electrolyte from said solvent to dry;
d. Determining the presence of Pt in the resulting dry membrane.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein said solvent is an alcohol.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein said solvent is ethanol.
11. The method of claim 8 comprising an additional step of rinsing said electrolyte in water prior to drying.
12. The method of claim 8 wherein visual observation is used to determine the presence of Pt in said dry membrane.
13. The method of claim 8 wherein x-ray fluorescence is used to determine the presence of Pt in said dry membrane.
14. The method of claim 8 wherein energy dispersive spectroscopy is used to determine the presence of Pt in said dry membrane.