Impact of flow rates and electrode specifications on degradations during repeated startups and shutdowns in polymer-electrolyte membrane fuel cells

Both the CO2 emissions and the charges exchanged increase with the common residence time of air and hydrogen in the anode compartment. However, the evolved CO2 accounts for less than 25% of the total exchanged charge. Startups are consistently more damaging than the shutdowns, evidenced by more evolved CO2 and charge exchanged, severe ECSA decrease, and higher performance losses.