Recovery of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell exposed to sulfur dioxide
File(s)NR CFCT N doped graphene SO2 poisoning_submitted.docx (6.82 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a common atmospheric contaminant which has a deleterious effect on fuel cells. The performance of a Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell (PEFC) utilising a Pt on nitrogen doped graphene support as the cathode catalyst was studied in the presence of air contaminated with known levels of SO2. The nitrogen doped graphene supported platinum was synthesized by a hydrothermal method. At levels of 25ppm SO2 in air there was within 15 minutes a 28 % reduction in the PEFC performance at 0.5 V. The performance degradation was more severe at higher SO2 concentrations. At 100 ppm SO2 in air the performance degraded by 91% at the same potential. The power loss of the fuel cell could not be recovered by externally polarising the PEFC at 1.6 V. Even after continuous potential cycling of the cell for 9 h only 80% of the initial performance could be recovered. However, a 15 minute treatment with 0.4% O3 in air showed almost a 100% performance recovery of the 100ppm SO2 contaminated fuel cell. The enhanced recovery of the fuel cell is related both to the chemical reaction of O3 with the adsorbed sulphur contaminant, and an increase of cathode potential during the electrochemical treatment.
Date Issued
2016-03-03
Date Acceptance
2016-01-14
Citation
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2016, 41 (12), pp.5598-5604
ISSN
1879-3487
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
5598
End Page
5604
Journal / Book Title
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Volume
41
Issue
12
Copyright Statement
© 2016, Elsevier. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Grant Number
EP/I037024/1
Subjects
Catalyst
Contamination
Fuel Cell
Graphene
Ozone
Recovery
Publication Status
Published