We’re excited to highlight the work of Tangfei Zheng, Jing Xie, Wei Ding, and their team at the Center of Advanced Electrochemical Energy, Chongqing University. Through an iterative testing strategy using Scribner’s 740 Membrane Test System, 850 Fuel Cell Test System, and 885 Potentiostat, the team investigated how ionomer degradation affects PEM fuel cell (PEMFC) performance under H2O2 chemically accelerated stress tests (C-AST).
Key Insights:
- Dry proton accessibility, electrochemical surface area, and oxygen transport resistance are critical to PEMFC performance
- Nafion D520 ionomer morphology changed drastically—swelling and rupturing from filament-like structures into flakes—after exposure to H₂O₂ in the chemical AST, due to C–F main chain bond breakage
Why It Matters:
This study deepens our understanding of ionomer decay mechanisms, providing a clear path toward improving ionomer properties and boosting PEMFC durability—a key step for advancing hydrogen-powered clean energy.
Kudos to the team for delivering insights that bring us closer to longer-lasting, high-performance fuel cell technologies.
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