Method for improving fuel cell performance
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsFrancisco A. Uribe, Thomas Zawodzinski
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Abstract
A method is provided for operating a fuel cell at high voltage for sustained periods of time. The cathode is switched to an output load effective to reduce the cell voltage at a pulse width effective to reverse performance degradation from OH adsorption onto cathode catalyst surfaces. The voltage is stepped to a value of less than about 0.6 V to obtain the improved and sustained performance.
Claims4
A method for operating a fuel cell at high voltage for sustained periods including the step of switching the cathode to an output load effective to reduce the cell voltage at a pulse width effective to reverse performance degradation from OH adsorption on cathode catalyst surfaces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.