Swedish researchers at Chalmers University of Technology are close to increasing the lifespan of hydrogen fuel cells.

By investigating the reasons for the cells' deterioration over time, they discovered that parts like electrodes and membranes break down, which shortens the cells' life. This is a significant challenge for heavy-duty commercial vehicles that need a lifespan of 20,000 to 30,000 hours—much longer than what current fuel cells can achieve.

Björn Wickman, an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at Chalmers, revealed a key finding: previous assumptions about testing were incorrect. It turns out that the performance of disassembled fuel cells didn’t degrade as much as previously thought. This breakthrough allowed the team to study the whole fuel cell rather than just its individual components.

The researchers tracked the path of a single particle within a fuel cell and identified several factors causing degradation, including heat and moisture. The voltage of the cathode electrode, ideally kept at 1.0 V, can surge to 1.5 V during engine operations, worsening the degradation. Moreover, platinum, which is essential for making the cells, speeds up the wear and tear.

Wickman stated, "We have now established a basis for developing better fuel cells." Understanding these degradation processes opens the door to finding new materials that could greatly extend the lifespan of fuel cells.