NONLINEAR LEAST SQUARES FITTING METHOD OF PEMFC MEMBRANE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY DEGRADATION PARAMETERS BASED ON I-V CURVES

Wu Fan; Yu Wanqiu; Wang Linhui; Wang Yadong; Xu Jiayu; Zhan Zhigang

doi:10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2025-0653

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Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica ›› 2026, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (9) : 107-113. DOI: 10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2025-0653

NONLINEAR LEAST SQUARES FITTING METHOD OF PEMFC MEMBRANE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY DEGRADATION PARAMETERS BASED ON I-V CURVES

Wu Fan^1,2, Yu Wanqiu^1,2, Wang Linhui^1,2, Wang Yadong^1,2, Xu Jiayu^1,2, Zhan Zhigang^1~3

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Abstract

A nonlinear analysis method based on I-V curves is proposed to assess membrane electrode assembly （MEA） degradation in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell （PEMFC）, aiming to meet the growing demand for health monitoring. This method enables real-time extraction of key performance parameters-electrochemically active surface area （SECSA）, hydrogen crossover current （iH2）, limiting current （ilim）, and high-frequency resistance （RHFR）—without additional electrochemical tests. By employing a nonlinear least squares fitting method, the degradation parameters are identified directly from I-V curve data. The feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method are validated using the data from a single-cell PEMFC tested over 6000 hours. During the 0-4000 h period, the model shows high fitting accuracy, while during the 5000-6000 h period, intensified membrane degradation and measurement time lag lead to an increased fitting error in iH2. Despite this, the method remains effective for real-time evaluation of MEA degradation in practical PEMFC applications, and can be extended to evaluate single cells in a stack, thereby enabling online testing and assessment of the overall stack health condition.

Key words

proton exchange membrane fuel cell / nonlinear analysis / least squares approximation / membrane electrode assembly degradation parameters / electrochemically active surface area

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Wu Fan, Yu Wanqiu, Wang Linhui, Wang Yadong, Xu Jiayu, Zhan Zhigang. NONLINEAR LEAST SQUARES FITTING METHOD OF PEMFC MEMBRANE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY DEGRADATION PARAMETERS BASED ON I-V CURVES[J]. Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica. 2026, 47(9): 107-113 https://doi.org/10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2025-0653

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