Influence of contaminants on PEMFC performance – a multisinglecell approach

Farhan S.M. Ali; Lius Daniel; Niko Heikkinen; Jari Ihonen; Markus Rautanen

doi:10.1016/j.nexres.2025.100209

Influence of contaminants on PEMFC performance – a multisinglecell approach

Farhan S.M. Ali^*, Lius Daniel, Niko Heikkinen, Jari Ihonen, Markus Rautanen

^*Corresponding author for this work

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Abstract

The impact of materials used in balance of plant (BoP) components of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is studied and the effect of the released contaminants on the performance of platinum (Pt) cathode catalyst are evaluated using multisinglecell (MSC) approach as an in-situ electrochemical tool. The effect of contaminants released from ethylene-propylene diene monomer (EPDM) and fluoroelastomers-based (FKM) materials is studied by measuring PEMFC voltage drop as a function of time at different temperatures. Sulfur cross-linked EPDM and FKM give a drastic poisoning effect with irreversible voltage loss of ∼25 mV and ∼35 mV respectively, without any pre-heat treatment. The pre-heat treatment of these materials significantly reduces the influence of contaminants on the Pt catalyst. Mass spectrometry (MS) analysis further reveals the extent of sulfur-based contaminants (CS2) from sulfur-cross-linked EPDM at temperatures 50 °C – 200 °C. The low concentrations of CS2 within the operating temperature (<100 °C) of PEMFC can have a strong contamination effect on the Pt catalyst and its recoverability. The results showed that peroxide-cross-linked EPDM is a very promising candidate to replace FKM, which can release perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Original language	English
Article number	100209
Journal	Next Research
Volume	2
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nexres.2025.100209
Publication status	Published - Jun 2025
MoE publication type	A1 Journal article-refereed

Funding

This project has received funding from the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen 2 Joint Undertaking (JU) under grant agreement No 101007226. The JU receives support from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program and Italy, Finland, Germany, Greece, Spain, Cyprus, Netherlands.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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j.nexres.2025.100209Final published version, 1.74 MBLicence: CC BY

e-SHyIPS: Ecosystemic knowledge in Standards for Hydrogen Implementation on Passenger Ship
Rautanen, M. (Manager)
1/01/21 → 31/12/24
Project: EU project

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@article{259e101445064ccda34f081f7590fe2a,

title = "Influence of contaminants on PEMFC performance – a multisinglecell approach",

abstract = "The impact of materials used in balance of plant (BoP) components of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is studied and the effect of the released contaminants on the performance of platinum (Pt) cathode catalyst are evaluated using multisinglecell (MSC) approach as an in-situ electrochemical tool. The effect of contaminants released from ethylene-propylene diene monomer (EPDM) and fluoroelastomers-based (FKM) materials is studied by measuring PEMFC voltage drop as a function of time at different temperatures. Sulfur cross-linked EPDM and FKM give a drastic poisoning effect with irreversible voltage loss of ∼25 mV and ∼35 mV respectively, without any pre-heat treatment. The pre-heat treatment of these materials significantly reduces the influence of contaminants on the Pt catalyst. Mass spectrometry (MS) analysis further reveals the extent of sulfur-based contaminants (CS2) from sulfur-cross-linked EPDM at temperatures 50 °C – 200 °C. The low concentrations of CS2 within the operating temperature (<100 °C) of PEMFC can have a strong contamination effect on the Pt catalyst and its recoverability. The results showed that peroxide-cross-linked EPDM is a very promising candidate to replace FKM, which can release perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).",

author = "Ali, {Farhan S.M.} and Lius Daniel and Niko Heikkinen and Jari Ihonen and Markus Rautanen",

year = "2025",

month = jun,

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volume = "2",

journal = "Next Research",

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T1 - Influence of contaminants on PEMFC performance – a multisinglecell approach

AU - Ali, Farhan S.M.

AU - Daniel, Lius

AU - Heikkinen, Niko

AU - Ihonen, Jari

AU - Rautanen, Markus

PY - 2025/6

Y1 - 2025/6

N2 - The impact of materials used in balance of plant (BoP) components of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is studied and the effect of the released contaminants on the performance of platinum (Pt) cathode catalyst are evaluated using multisinglecell (MSC) approach as an in-situ electrochemical tool. The effect of contaminants released from ethylene-propylene diene monomer (EPDM) and fluoroelastomers-based (FKM) materials is studied by measuring PEMFC voltage drop as a function of time at different temperatures. Sulfur cross-linked EPDM and FKM give a drastic poisoning effect with irreversible voltage loss of ∼25 mV and ∼35 mV respectively, without any pre-heat treatment. The pre-heat treatment of these materials significantly reduces the influence of contaminants on the Pt catalyst. Mass spectrometry (MS) analysis further reveals the extent of sulfur-based contaminants (CS2) from sulfur-cross-linked EPDM at temperatures 50 °C – 200 °C. The low concentrations of CS2 within the operating temperature (<100 °C) of PEMFC can have a strong contamination effect on the Pt catalyst and its recoverability. The results showed that peroxide-cross-linked EPDM is a very promising candidate to replace FKM, which can release perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

AB - The impact of materials used in balance of plant (BoP) components of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is studied and the effect of the released contaminants on the performance of platinum (Pt) cathode catalyst are evaluated using multisinglecell (MSC) approach as an in-situ electrochemical tool. The effect of contaminants released from ethylene-propylene diene monomer (EPDM) and fluoroelastomers-based (FKM) materials is studied by measuring PEMFC voltage drop as a function of time at different temperatures. Sulfur cross-linked EPDM and FKM give a drastic poisoning effect with irreversible voltage loss of ∼25 mV and ∼35 mV respectively, without any pre-heat treatment. The pre-heat treatment of these materials significantly reduces the influence of contaminants on the Pt catalyst. Mass spectrometry (MS) analysis further reveals the extent of sulfur-based contaminants (CS2) from sulfur-cross-linked EPDM at temperatures 50 °C – 200 °C. The low concentrations of CS2 within the operating temperature (<100 °C) of PEMFC can have a strong contamination effect on the Pt catalyst and its recoverability. The results showed that peroxide-cross-linked EPDM is a very promising candidate to replace FKM, which can release perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

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DO - 10.1016/j.nexres.2025.100209

M3 - Article

SN - 3050-4759

VL - 2

JO - Next Research

JF - Next Research

IS - 2

M1 - 100209

ER -

Influence of contaminants on PEMFC performance – a multisinglecell approach

Abstract

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UN SDGs

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e-SHyIPS: Ecosystemic knowledge in Standards for Hydrogen Implementation on Passenger Ship

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