Effects of SO₂ in Air on Performance of Direct Methanol Fuel Cell

Authors

Bin QIN, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, Liaoning, China;University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China;
Fen-ning JING, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, Liaoning, China;
Xue-jing SUN, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, Liaoning, China;University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China;
Gong-quan SUN, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, Liaoning, China;Follow
Hai SUN, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, Liaoning, China;Follow

Corresponding Author

Gong-quan SUN(gqsun@dicp.ac.cn);
Hai SUN(sunhai@dicp.ac.cn)

Abstract

Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) generally use oxygen as an oxidant. Contaminants such as sulfides and nitrides in the air can affect the performance of the DMFC. In this work, the effects of SO₂ on the performance of DMFC were investigated and the mechanism of poisoning was analyzed, by means of constant current discharge curve, polarization performance curve, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). In the CV scan, the permeated methanol was oxidized at a low potential to eliminate its effect on the SO₂ poisoning behavior test. The results showed that the SO₂ poisoning resulted in a decrease in the electrochemical activity surface area (ECSA) of the catalyst. Meanwhile, the EIS data indicated that the poisoning led to an increase in the charge transfer resistance of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Therefore, the poison accelerated decay of the open circuit voltage and operating voltage of the DMFC, and decreased the peak power density. Further investigations of three recovery strategies, dry air purging and load-shifting I-V operations could only partially restore the performance of DMFC. However, CV scanning could accomplish the recovery more completely.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

direct methanol fuel cell, sulfur dioxide, adsorption, recovery

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.13208/j.electrochem.180858

Publication Date

2018-12-28

Online Available Date

2018-11-14

Revised Date

2018-11-13

Received Date

2018-10-10

Recommended Citation

Bin QIN, Fen-ning JING, Xue-jing SUN, Gong-quan SUN, Hai SUN. Effects of SO₂ in Air on Performance of Direct Methanol Fuel Cell[J]. Journal of Electrochemistry, 2018 , 24(6): 707-714.
DOI: 10.13208/j.electrochem.180858
Available at: https://jelectrochem.xmu.edu.cn/journal/vol24/iss6/12

References

[1] Wang Y, Chen K S, Mishler J, et al. A review of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells: technology, applications, and needs on fundamental research[J]. Applied Energy, 2011, 88(4): 981-1007.
[2] Zamel N, Li X. Effect of contaminants on polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells[J]. Progress in Energy and Combustion Science, 2011, 37(3): 292-329.
[3] Gould B D, Baturina O A, Swider-Lyons K E. Deactivation of Pt/VC proton exchange membrane fuel cell cathodes by SO₂, H₂S and COS[J]. Journal of Power Sources, 2009, 188(1): 89-95.
[4] Yang D J(杨代军), Ma J X(马建新), Ma X W(马晓伟), et al. Effects of SO₂ on cathode performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell[J]. Chemical Journal of Chinese Universities(高等学校化学学报), 2007, 28(4): 731-734.
[5] U.S. Department of Energy. Effect of fuel and air impurities on PEM fuel cell performance[R]. FY 2009 Progress report for the DOE hydrogen program. Washingdon, D. C. 20585-0121. 2009, 11: 974-977.
[6] Fu J, Hou M, Du C, et al. Potential dependence of sulfur dioxide poisoning and oxidation at the cathode of proton exchange membrane fuel cells[J]. Journal of Power Sources, 2009, 187(1): 32-38.
[7] Fu J(傅杰), Hou M(侯明), Yu H M(俞红梅), et al. Effects of SO₂ in air on the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell[J]. Chinese Journal of Power Sources(电源技术), 2007, (11): 864-866+913.
[8] Zhai Y, Bethune K, Bender G, et al. Analysis of the SO₂ contamination effect on the oxygen reduction reaction in PEMFCs by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy[J]. Journal of The Electrochemical Society, 2012, 159(5): B524-B530.
[9] Garsany Y, Baturina O A, Swider-Lyons K E. Impact of sulfur dioxide on the oxygen reduction reaction at Pt/Vulcan carbon electrocatalysts[J]. Journal of The Electrochemical Society, 2007, 154(7): B670-B675.
[10] Imamura D, Yamaguchi E. Effect of air contaminants on electrolyte degradation in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells[C]. Editors. Fuller T, Uchida H, Strasser P, et al. Electrochemical Soc Inc: Pennington, Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells 9, ECS Transactions, 2009, 25(1): 813-819.
[11] Zhai Y, Bender G, Bethune K, et al. Influence of cell temperature on sulfur dioxide contamination in proton exchange membrane fuel cells[J]. Journal of Power Sources, 2014, 247: 40-48.
[12] St-Pierre J, Wetton B, Zhai Y, et al. Liquid water scavenging of PEMFC contaminants[J]. Journal of The Electrochemical Society, 2014, 161(8): E3357-E3364.
[13] Tsushima S, Kaneko K, Hirai S, Two-stage degradation of PEMFC performance due to sulfur dioxide contamination[C]. Fuller T, Uchida H, Strasser P, et al. Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells 10, Pts 1 and 2, Electrochemical Soc Inc: Pennington, 2010, 33(1): 1645-1652.
[14] Baturina O A, Gould B D, Korovina A, et al. Products of SO2 adsorption on fuel cell electrocatalysts by combination of sulfur K-Edge XANES and electrochemistry[J]. Langmuir, 2011, 27(24): 14930-14939.
[15] Piela P, Fields R, Zelenay P. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for direct methanol fuel cell diagnostics[J]. Journal of The Electrochemical Society, 2006, 153(10): A1902-A1913.
[16] Jeon M K, Won J Y, Oh K S, et al. Performance degradation study of a direct methanol fuel cell by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy[J]. Electrochimica Acta, 2007, 53(2): 447-452.
[17] Baturina O A, Swider-Lyons K E. Effect of SO₂ on the performance of the cathode of a PEM Fuel Cell at 0.5-0.7 V[J]. Journal of The Electrochemical Society, 2009, 156(12): B1423-B1430.
[18] Arico A S, Srinivasan S, Antonucci V. DMFCs: From fundamental aspects to technology development[J]. Fuel Cells, 2001, 1(2): 133-161.
[19] Jens T. Mueller P M U. Characterization of direct methanol fuel cells by ac impedance spectroscopy[J]. Journal of Power Sources, 1998, 75: 139-143.
[20] Muller J T, Urban P M, Holderich W F. Impedance studies on direct methanol fuel cell anodes[J]. Journal of Power Sources, 1999, 84(2): 157-160.
[21] Du C Y, Zhao T S, Xu C. Simultaneous oxygen-reduction and methanol-oxidation reactions at the cathode of a DMFC: A model-based electrochemical impedance spectroscopy study[J]. Journal of Power Sources, 2007, 167(2): 265-271.
[22] Chen M, Du C, Yin G, et al. Numerical analysis of the electrochemical impedance spectra of the cathode of direct methanol fuel cells[J]. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2009, 34(3): 1522-1530.