Experimental validation for enhancement of PEMFC cold start performance: Based on the optimization of micro porous layer

Abstract The cold start is one of the key research fields in PEMFC studies. The improvement of PEMFC’s (proton exchange membrane fuel cell) unassisted cold start performance has played a positive role in promoting the industrialization and commercialization of FCV (fuel cell vehicle). In this work, as the key point of MEA (membrane electrode assembly) structure optimization, MPL (micro porous layer) aims to make the generated water can be retained in the CLs (catalyst layer) and membrane in the form of membrane water at the initial period of cold start. And the cold start performance of the optimized MEA single cell and stack are observed and analyzed by the segmented cell technology. After comparing with the cold start performance of the commercial MEA single cell and stack under the same conditions, the improvement of the cold start performance is verified. The single cell of MEA1 could achieve a quick unassisted cold start at a start-up temperature of −15 °C, and the cold start time under 0.2 V in CV (constant voltage) mode is 153 s, while the commercial MEA single cell can only achieve a successful cold start under the minimum start-up temperature of −10 °C. The optimized MEA stack can realize a quick unassisted cold start at a startup temperature of −20 °C, and the cold start time under 0.1 V in CV mode is 63 s, while the commercial MEA stack can only achieve a successful cold start under the minimum startup temperature of −15 °C.