The effect of hydrogen crossover on open-circuit voltage in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

Even though the measured open-circuit voltage in a H₂-O₂ PEM fuel cell is invariably about 200-250 mV lower than that predicted from thermodynamics (1.229 V at 25 °C), there is no unequivocal explanation of this phenomenon available in the literature, although several hypotheses exist. Based on a theoretical model of mixed potential with a priori parameters, it is shown here that this voltage loss under open-circuit conditions can be attributed exclusively to hydrogen crossover and the resulting oxygen reduction reaction overpotential at the cathode. The analytical model predictions agree well with available experimental results.