Post-mortem Analysis as a Method to Identify Degradation of PEM Fuel Cells Affecting their Durability in Maritime Applications

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) present great potential for the decarbonization of the maritime sector but their durability in harsh marine environments remains a critical challenge. This review focuses on post-mortem analysis techniques as a tool to understand the degradation mechanisms of PEMFCs under stressors relevant to marine applications. In further detail, the application of various imaging (SEM, TEM), structural (XRD), electrochemical (CV), and elemental analysis (EDS) methods, to characterize the effects of key stressors such as salt spray, mechanical vibration, and operational cycling was examined. By analyzing degraded PEMFC components, post-mortem analysis reveals critical insights into catalyst layer degradation, membrane damage, and the impact of impurities, enabling the identification of failure modes and the development of effective mitigation strategies for the establishment of PEMFCs in the maritime sector.