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Research Papers

# Electrochemical Impedance Parameters for the Diagnosis of a Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Poisoned by Carbon Monoxide in Reformed Hydrogen Fuel

[+] Author and Article Information
Hironori Nakajima

Department of Mechanical Engineering Science, Faculty of Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japannakajima@mech.kyushu-u.ac.jp

Toshiaki Konomi, Tatsumi Kitahara

Department of Mechanical Engineering Science, Faculty of Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan

Hideaki Tachibana

Department of Mechanical Engineering Science, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan

J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol 5(4), 041013 (Sep 11, 2008) (6 pages) doi:10.1115/1.2931462 History: Received November 14, 2006; Revised July 10, 2007; Published September 11, 2008

## Abstract

We have investigated the behavior of an operating polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) with supplying a mixture of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen $(H2)$ gases into the anode to develop the PEFC diagnosis method for anode CO poisoning by reformed hydrogen fuel. We analyze the characteristics of the CO poisoned anode of the PEFC at $80°C$ including CO adsorption and electro-oxidation behaviors by current-voltage $(I‐V)$ measurement and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to find parameters useful for the diagnosis. $I‐V$ curves show the dependence of the output voltage on the CO adsorption and electro-oxidation. EIS analyses are performed with an equivalent circuit model consisting of several resistances and capacitances attributed to the activation, diffusion, and adsorption∕desorption processes. As the result, those resistances and capacitances are shown to change with current density and anode overpotential depending on the CO adsorption and electro-oxidation. The characteristic changes of those parameters show that they can be used for the diagnosis of the CO poisoning.

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## Figures

Figure 1

Configuration of the anode, cathode, and reference electrodes in the MEA

Figure 2

Relations between (a) output voltage and current density and (b) anode overpotential and current density at 80°C with mixture H2+100ppm CO in the anode and air in cathode. Relative humidity: 100%.

Figure 3

Relations between (a) Ra and current density, and (b) Ra and anode overpotential at 80°C with mixture of H2+100ppm CO. Relative humidity: 100%.

Figure 4

Impedance spectra of the anode with pure H2 at 80°C. Relative humidity: 100%. (a) Complex plane plots; (b) real parts of the impedance as a function of frequency.

Figure 5

Impedance spectra of the anode with mixture of H2+100ppm CO at 80°C. Relative humidity: 100%. (a) Complex plane plots; (b) real parts of the impedance as a function of frequency.

Figure 6

Equivalent circuit of the anode of a PEFC with the adsorption∕desorption process

Figure 7

Comparison of Ra obtained from the I‐V measurement and EIS at 80°C with pure H2. Relative humidity: 100%.

Figure 8

Relation between (a) RIR, (b) Raa, (c) Rac, and (d) Rad and current density at 80°C with pure H2 and mixture of H2+100ppm CO. Relative humidity: 100%.

Figure 9

Relation between (a) RIR, (b) Raa, (c) Rac, and (d) Rad and anode overpotential at 80°C with pure H2 and mixture of H2+100ppm CO. Relative humidity: 100%.

Figure 10

Relation between (a) Caa, (b) Cac, and (c) Cad and current density at 80°C with pure H2 and mixture of H2+100ppm CO. Relative humidity: 100%.

Figure 11

Relation between (a) Caa, (b) Cac, and (c) Cad and anode overpotential at 80°C with pure H2 and mixture of H2+100ppm CO. Relative humidity: 100%.

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