Fuel Cells: Oxidation processes of phosphoric acid revealed by tender X-rays

The interactions between phosphoric acid and the platinum catalyst in high-temperature PEM fuel cells are more complex than previously assumed. Experiments at BESSY II with tender X-rays have decoded the multiple oxidation processes at the platinum-electrolyte interface. The results indicate that variations in humidity can influence some of these processes in order to increase the lifetime and efficiency of fuel cells. 

Hydrogen fuel cells convert chemical energy from hydrogen into electrical energy through separate reactions of hydrogen fuels and oxidizing agents (oxygen). Among hydrogen fuel cells, high-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs) are attractive for micro-stationary electricity sources. One disadvantage of these HT-PEMFCs is that the phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄) proton conductor leaches out of the H₃PO₄-doped polybenzimidazole membrane and poisons the platinum catalyst. Recent studies show further complications during the operation of the HT-PEMFC, where some of H₃PO₄ might be reduced to H₃PO₃, which may further poison the platinum catalysts, leading to a significant loss of performance.

Complex processes and interactions

An earlier study by Prof. Dr Marcus Bär's team showed that opposite processes also take place at the interface between Pt and aqueous H₃PO₃ and that the interactions between the platinum catalyst and the H₃PO₃/H₃PO₄ are very complex: while H₃PO₃ can lead to poisoning of the platinum catalyst, at the same time platinum might catalyzes the oxidation of H₃PO₃ back to H₃PO₄.

Experiments under realistic conditions

In order to investigate the oxidation behaviour of aqueous H₃PO₃ under conditions close to HT-PEMFCs working conditions, Bär's team has now analysed the chemical processes using an in-housed designed heatable electrochemical cell compatible for in situ tender X-ray studies at the OÆSE end-station recently set up in the Energy Materials In-situ Laboratory Berlin (EMIL). They used intense X-ray light in the tender X-ray energy range (2 keV – 5 keV), which is provided by the EMIL beamline at the X-ray source BESSY II. In this energy range, X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy (XANES) at the P K-edge is used to monitor oxidation processes from H₃PO₃ to H₃PO₄.

Different oxidation reactions examined

"We have thus uncovered different processes for this oxidation reaction, including platinum-catalysed chemical oxidation, electrochemical oxidation under positive potential bias at the platinum electrode, and heat-promoted oxidation. These in situ spectroscopic results are also confirmed by ion-exchange chromatography and in situ electrochemical characterisations," explains Enggar Wibowo, first author of the study and a PhD candidate in Bär’s team. "Remarkably, all of these oxidation pathways involve reactions with water, which shows that the humidity inside the fuel cell has a significant influence on these processes."

Humidity as a factor for improvements

In addition, the results also point to possible improvements of the operating conditions of HT-PEM fuel cells, e.g. by controlling the humidification to oxidise the H₃PO₃ back to H₃PO₄. “Corresponding adjustments to the operation conditions of HT-PEMFCs could be implemented to prevent catalyst poisoning by H₃PO₃ and enhance efficiency of those fuel cells,” Wibowo points out.

Outlook to BESSY III

"The work clarifies a key degradation pathway of fuel cells and is a contribution on the way to an H₂-based energy supply," says Prof. Dr.-Ing. Marcus Bär. "It also shows the great benefit of tender X-rays, and we are looking forward to BESSY III, which aims to close the "tender X-ray" gap," he adds.