ABSTRACT
The performance of fuel cell stacks is primarily affected by the selected materials for the membrane-electrode assembly and by the operating conditions. Operating conditions and material properties strongly interact, resulting in unavoidable material corrosion that influences performance and lifetime. To minimize the degradation rate of PEMFC with the choice of optimal operating conditions, it is necessary to examine and evaluate the stack or the single cell with in situ characterization methods. In this chapter, the state of the art of experimental studies concerning the degradation of the membrane, the active layer and the gas diffusion layer of the electrode with in situ characterization methods under different operating conditions is discussed.
