Impact of catalyst support impurities on chemical degradation in polymer electrolyte membranes

S. Nakamura; K. Sanami; N. Fukaya; Z. Gautama; Z. Noda; M. Yasutake; S.M. Lyth; M. Nishihara; K. Sasaki

doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.153188

Impact of catalyst support impurities on chemical degradation in polymer electrolyte membranes

S. Nakamura
, K. Sanami
, N. Fukaya
, Z. Gautama
, Z. Noda
, M. Yasutake
, S.M. Lyth
, M. Nishihara
, K. Sasaki^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

This study investigates the effect of iron and magnesium impurities present in carbon-based catalyst supports on the chemical degradation of polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). A strong linear correlation is found between the iron content on the carbon surface and the degree of membrane thinning after 100-h open circuit voltage (OCV) holding tests, while membrane thinning is depressed by acid treatment. In contrast, magnesium impurities have no significant effect on membrane thinning, but Mg2+ ions cause an increase in ohmic resistance. These findings highlight the critical role of surface Fe impurities in the chemical degradation of PEMs and thereby the durability of PEFCs, as well as the role of Mg in decreasing the ionic conductivity. They also clearly demonstrate that acid treatment of the carbon support is effective in mitigating these modes of degradation, paving the way for the design of more durable PEFCs.

Original language	English
Article number	153188
Journal	International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Volume	204
Early online date	31 Dec 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.153188
Publication status	Published - 28 Jan 2026

Funding

his paper is based on results obtained from a project (JPNP20003) and a subsequent project (JPNP25002), both commissioned by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). An educational part for young scientists was supported by the Japan Science and Technology Agency through the program “Adopting Sustainable Partnerships for Innovative Research Ecosystem” (ASPIRE), Grant Number JPMJAP2307. The presenting author (S. Nakamura) is supported by JST SPRING, Grant Number JPMJSP2136, and the Miyamoto Jun-ichi Hydrogen Research Award of Kyushu University.

Keywords

Polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC)
Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM)
Membrane thinning
Iron impurity
Carbon support
Acid treatment

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Cite this

@article{187ff3c855e14b98bea694208843ea7f,

title = "Impact of catalyst support impurities on chemical degradation in polymer electrolyte membranes",

abstract = "This study investigates the effect of iron and magnesium impurities present in carbon-based catalyst supports on the chemical degradation of polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). A strong linear correlation is found between the iron content on the carbon surface and the degree of membrane thinning after 100-h open circuit voltage (OCV) holding tests, while membrane thinning is depressed by acid treatment. In contrast, magnesium impurities have no significant effect on membrane thinning, but Mg2+ ions cause an increase in ohmic resistance. These findings highlight the critical role of surface Fe impurities in the chemical degradation of PEMs and thereby the durability of PEFCs, as well as the role of Mg in decreasing the ionic conductivity. They also clearly demonstrate that acid treatment of the carbon support is effective in mitigating these modes of degradation, paving the way for the design of more durable PEFCs.",

keywords = "Polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC), Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM), Membrane thinning, Iron impurity, Carbon support, Acid treatment",

author = "S. Nakamura and K. Sanami and N. Fukaya and Z. Gautama and Z. Noda and M. Yasutake and S.M. Lyth and M. Nishihara and K. Sasaki",

year = "2026",

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doi = "10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.153188",

language = "English",

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journal = "International Journal of Hydrogen Energy",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Impact of catalyst support impurities on chemical degradation in polymer electrolyte membranes

AU - Nakamura, S.

AU - Sanami, K.

AU - Fukaya, N.

AU - Gautama, Z.

AU - Noda, Z.

AU - Yasutake, M.

AU - Lyth, S.M.

AU - Nishihara, M.

AU - Sasaki, K.

PY - 2026/1/28

Y1 - 2026/1/28

N2 - This study investigates the effect of iron and magnesium impurities present in carbon-based catalyst supports on the chemical degradation of polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). A strong linear correlation is found between the iron content on the carbon surface and the degree of membrane thinning after 100-h open circuit voltage (OCV) holding tests, while membrane thinning is depressed by acid treatment. In contrast, magnesium impurities have no significant effect on membrane thinning, but Mg2+ ions cause an increase in ohmic resistance. These findings highlight the critical role of surface Fe impurities in the chemical degradation of PEMs and thereby the durability of PEFCs, as well as the role of Mg in decreasing the ionic conductivity. They also clearly demonstrate that acid treatment of the carbon support is effective in mitigating these modes of degradation, paving the way for the design of more durable PEFCs.

AB - This study investigates the effect of iron and magnesium impurities present in carbon-based catalyst supports on the chemical degradation of polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). A strong linear correlation is found between the iron content on the carbon surface and the degree of membrane thinning after 100-h open circuit voltage (OCV) holding tests, while membrane thinning is depressed by acid treatment. In contrast, magnesium impurities have no significant effect on membrane thinning, but Mg2+ ions cause an increase in ohmic resistance. These findings highlight the critical role of surface Fe impurities in the chemical degradation of PEMs and thereby the durability of PEFCs, as well as the role of Mg in decreasing the ionic conductivity. They also clearly demonstrate that acid treatment of the carbon support is effective in mitigating these modes of degradation, paving the way for the design of more durable PEFCs.

KW - Polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC)

KW - Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM)

KW - Membrane thinning

KW - Iron impurity

KW - Carbon support

KW - Acid treatment

U2 - 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.153188

DO - 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.153188

M3 - Article

SN - 0360-3199

VL - 204

JO - International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

JF - International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

M1 - 153188

ER -

Impact of catalyst support impurities on chemical degradation in polymer electrolyte membranes

Abstract

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Keywords

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