%0 Journal Article
%K modeling
%K diagnostics
%K pefc
%A Lalit M Pant
%A Zhiwei Yang
%A Michael L Perry
%A Adam Z Weber
%B Journal of The Electrochemical Society
%D 2018
%G eng
%N 6
%P F3007 - F3014
%R 10.1149/2.0011806jes
%T Development of a Simple and Rapid Diagnostic Method for Polymer-Electrolyte Fuel Cells
%V 165
%8 01/2018
%! J. Electrochem. Soc.
%X <p>A simple and fast diagnostic tool has been developed for analyzing polymer-electrolyte fuel-cell degradation. The tool is based on analyzing changes in polarization curves of a cell over its lifetime. The shape of the polarization-change curve and its sensitivity to oxygen concentration are found to be unique for each degradation pathway based on analysis from a detailed 2-D numerical model of the cell. Using the polarization-change curve methodology, the primary mechanism for degradation (kinetic, ohmic, and/or transport related) can be identified. The technique is applied to two sets of data to explain performance changes after two different cells undergo voltage-cycling accelerated stress test, where it is found that changes are kinetic and then ohmic or transport in nature depending on the cell type. The diagnostic tool provides a simple method for rapid determination of primary degradation mechanisms. Areas for more detailed future investigations are also summarized.</p>