Proton exchange membrane fuel cell fueled by impure hydrogen and air: A review

Abstract

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) technology has been rapidly developed in recent years. However, the high cost of high-purity hydrogen/air has hindered their further development. On-site hydrogen production and direct input of hydrogen-rich gas can solve this challenge, but impurities in them may hinder their performance and durability. In this paper, we synthesize recent experimental studies, computational models, and real-world case studies to systematically investigate the challenges and solutions to the use of impure hydrogen PEMFCs, addressing three main objectives: (1) identifying the main sources of impurities and their poisoning mechanisms; (2) evaluating mitigation strategies for anode/cathode contamination; and (3) assessing the practical applications of PEMFCs fueled by impure hydrogen. Among them, CO, H₂S and NH₃ at the anode and SO₂ and NO_x at the cathode are toxic to PEMFCs. In terms of mitigation strategies, HT-PEMFC can improve CO tolerance by simply changing the material of the electrolyte membrane, which is currently the most mature and widely used. The demand for pure hydrogen has been reduced by ammonia-hydrogen fuel cells, methanol and methane-to-hydrogen PEMFCs, which show great environmental potential and value for transportation and home heating. The paper concludes with recommendations for future research and policy.