Abstract:The commercial development of zinc-air fuel cells is limited by their lack of durability. A zinc-air fuel cell durability test evaluation method was developed based on the working conditions for short term stable operation, long term continuous stable operation, shutdown storage and periodic start-stop cycles. The aging characteristics of zinc-air fuel cells were then experimentally investigated for various operating conditions to study the aging mechanism. Finally, several methods were developed to slow the aging through electrolyte management, methods to extend the air cathode lifetime, and zinc-air fuel cell management. The durability test evaluation method presented in this paper can be used to study the aging characteristics and durability of zinc-air fuel cells.
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