Cleaning (de-poisining) PEMFC electrodes from strongly adsorbed species on the catalyst surface

Abstract

A method for cleaning the electrochemical catalyst of fuel cell electrodes that is performed by applying a power pulse, using a low-power supply, across the fuel cell electrodes. The power pulse removes chemisorbed chemical species from the electrochemical catalyst of the electrodes.

1 . A method for cleaning the electrochemical catalyst of fuel cell electrodes, comprising: applying a power pulse using a low-power supply across said fuel cell electrodes for a period of time sufficient to remove chemisorbed chemical species from said electrochemical catalyst.  
   
   
       2 . A method of removing a contaminant from a fuel cell cathode, comprising: 
 connecting a fuel cell cathode to a positive terminal,    connecting a fuel cell anode to a negative terminal, and    applying a fixed voltage low-power power supply across said fuel cell cathode for a predetermined period where said contaminant is removed from said fuel cell cathode.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  where said fixed voltage ranges from about 1.2 to 1.4 volts.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2  where said predetermined period ranges from about 1 to 20 seconds.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 2  where said low-power supply ranges from about 0.5 to 6.0 W/cm 2 .  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 2  where said fixed voltage is applied for a time sufficient to restore said fuel cell current to within 95 to 100% of initial current.  
   
   
       7 . A method of removing a contaminant from a fuel cell anode, comprising: 
 connecting a fuel cell cathode to a negative terminal,    connecting a fuel cell anode to a positive terminal, and    applying a fixed voltage across said fuel cell anode for a predetermined period where said contaminant is removed from said fuel cell anode.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  where said fixed voltage ranges from about 1.2 to 1.4 volts.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7  where said predetermined period ranges from about 1 to 20 seconds.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 2  where said low-power supply ranges from about 0.5 to 6.0 W/cm 2 .  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 7  where said fixed voltage is applied for a time sufficient to restore said fuel cell current to within 95 to 100% of initial current.