Stack Components -- Dissolution and Stabilization of Platinum in Oxygen Cathodes -- Carbon-Support Requirements for Highly Durable Fuel Cell Operation -- Chemical Degradation of Perfluorinated Sulfonic Acid Membranes -- Chemical Degradation: Correlations Between Electrolyzer and Fuel Cell Findings -- Improvement of Membrane and Membrane Electrode Assembly Durability -- Durability of Radiation-Grafted Fuel Cell Membranes -- Durability Aspects of Gas-Diffusion and Microporous Layers -- High-Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells: Durability Insights -- Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Durability -- Influence of Metallic Bipolar Plates on the Durability of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells -- Durability of Graphite Composite Bipolar Plates -- Gaskets: Important Durability Issues -- Cells and Stack Operation -- Air Impurities -- Impurity Effects on Electrode Reactions in Fuel Cells -- Performance and Durability of a Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Operating with Reformate: Effects of CO, CO2, and Other Trace Impurities -- Subfreezing Phenomena in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells -- Application of Accelerated Testing and Statistical Lifetime Modeling to Membrane Electrode Assembly Development -- Operating Requirements for Durable Polymer-Electrolyte Fuel Cell Stacks -- Design Requirements for Bipolar Plates and Stack Hardware for Durable Operation -- Heterogeneous Cell Ageing in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Stacks -- System Perspectives -- Degradation Factors of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells in Residential Cogeneration Systems -- Fuel Cell Stack Durability for Vehicle Application -- R&D Status -- Durability Targets for Stationary and Automotive Applications in Japan.

A major part of the competitiveness gap of polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) technology in automotive and stationary co-generation applications is due lack of durability. This book analyzes the relevant degradation processes in PEFC on the level of components, cells and stacks, and applications. Prominent authors from the PEFC field describe and analyze in 23 chapters the relevant degradation mechanisms and mitigation strategies.