Investigation of the local temperature and overheat inside the membrane electrode assembly of PEM fuel cell

•New technique for real time temperature measurements inside PEMFC is presented.•Tantalum sensors (μRTSs) provide robust and valuable temperature measurements.•μRTSs can be used in different locations of the cell (rib/channel).•Tantalum sensors reveal a non uniform fuel cell temperature behavior.•Temperature distribution under various conditions can be obtain with this technique.

A novel method for in situ temperature measurement inside a PEMFC cell is explored. This technique is based on the tantalum micro resistive thermal sensors technologies. The temperature sensors used in this work are robust, good chemical resistant, ductile and easily to introduce in homemade or commercial MEAs. Real time thermal and electrical behaviors of the cell are investigated. Measurements show that as function of the fuel cell working regime (constant voltage or constant current), more or less important overheat are possible inside the cell and that the active layer temperature can be really different (several degrees higher) than the temperature of bipolar plate. This, lead to a better understanding of the fuel cell operation and can help the improvement of fuel cell test protocols and metrology.