Influence of Interaction between Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell and Switching Power Converters on Catalyst Degradation

质子交换膜燃料电池(PEMFC)通常使用产生高频纹波电流的开关功率转换器来运行。这些波动导致电池的高频电位循环，这被认为是导致铂/碳催化剂的电化学表面积(ECA)过早恶化的原因。在1 Hz-1 kHz范围内，研究了ECA损耗与电位循环频率之间的定性关系。对于高于100赫兹的频率，ECA损失与电位保持条件下的损失相当。然而，对于较低的频率，ECA随着频率的降低而显著降低。在电位循环过程中测量的电流表明，双电层电容电流在高于100赫兹的频率处占主导地位，而与铂的氧化/还原相关的电流在低于100赫兹的频率范围内显著增加。这项研究的结果被认为是电气工程研究的参考，因为它涉及到不会对铂/碳催化剂的耐久性产生负面影响的开关功率转换器的设计。

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) are generally operated using switching power converters that produce high-frequency ripple currents. These ripples cause high-frequency potential cycling of cells, which is believed to lead premature deterioration in the electrochemical surface area (ECA) of Pt/C catalysts. The qualitative relationship between ECA losses and the frequency of potential cycling was investigated in the range of 1 Hz-1 kHz. For frequencies higher than 100 Hz, ECA losses were comparable with those at the potential hold condition. However, for lower frequencies, ECA decreased significantly with decreasing frequency. The measured current during the potential cycling indicated that the current for double-layer capacitance dominated at frequencies higher than 100 Hz, while the currents associated with Pt oxidation/reduction were significant at frequency range lower than 100 Hz. The results obtained in this study are considered informative for electrical engineering research, because it relates to the design of switching power converters that do not negatively influence the Pt/C catalyst durability.