2017How the operative conditions influence the current distribution in a PEMFC: an experimental study through a high-resolution segmented cell

In a green future, Fuel cells will probably become the suitable environmental friendly technology to generate power for several applications. They, in fact, generate electricity by an electrochemical process; in particular, Polymer Electrolyte fuel cells (PEMFC) use hydrogen and air as reactants, in combination with a solid, proton conductor electrolyte. Due to the complexity of the phenomena that take place inside a PEM fuel cell, scientists have focused their attention on different points, from the electrochemistry towards the fluid dynamics to mechanics. As well as the electrochemical components play a key role in the performance of a fuel cell, the distribution of the reactants over the electrode surfaces is fundamental for an optimal operation of the device. To understand PEMFC systems, a detailed analysis of the influence of main parameters on its performance and the development of different in situ analytical methods is fundamental. Segmented current collector (SCC) have proven to be an excellent in situ diagnostic tool, to a deep understanding on how a fuel cell works and to study the factors influencing the uneven electrochemical response of the Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA). A SCC is similar to an ordinary fuel cell current collector with the exception that it is divided into smaller ones that can be individually interrogated for current, voltage and temperature.