Strategies of the Cold Start of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells

Processes proceeding in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells at negative temperatures were investigated. Mechanisms of degradation of the active electrocatalytic layers and gas-diffusion electrodes of these cells in the case of freezing of the water in them were considered. Methods of decreasing or excluding the detrimental effect of negative temperatures on the characteristics of the indicated cells and engineering solutions on the provision of their cold start have been proposed.