A novel reference electrode for application in alkaline polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

An in-situ fuel cell reference electrode (RE) consisting of a Pd-coated Pt wire exhibits stable potentials in alkaline polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (APEMFC). Results indicate that the overpotential and impedance of the anode are higher than those of the cathode in the cells tested (even at low currents): this is contrary to that found in proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) and it shows that caution is required when translating prior understating of PEMFC to APEMFC. The working hypothesis is that there is flooding-derived mass transport loss at the anode (where water is electro-generated). (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.