Effect of Water Electrolysis Catalysts on Carbon Corrosion in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells

A new approach to preventing electrochemical carbon corrosion in the cathode of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) was developed. The addition of 2 wt % IrO2 (0.016 mg cm(-2)) to the catalyst layer of the cathode was demonstrated to reduce the electrochemical corrosion of carbon by 76% at 1.6 V-NHE and 70 degrees C compared with a commercial Pt/C catalyst of the same Pt loading of 0.4 mg cm(-2) and under the same test conditions. The IrO2 was shown to behave as a catalyst for water electrolysis, thereby removing water from the catalyst layer, which promoted electrochemical carbon corrosion.