Research Progress on Aging Prediction Methods for Fuel Cells: Mechanism, Methods, and Evaluation Criteria

Due to the non-renewable nature and pollution associated with fossil fuels, there is widespread research into alternative energy sources. As a novel energy device, a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is considered a promising candidate for transportation due to its advantages, including zero carbon emissions, low noise, and high energy density. However, the commercialization of fuel cells faces a significant challenge related to aging and performance degradation during operation. In order to comprehensively address the issue of fuel cell aging and performance decline, this paper provides a detailed review of aging mechanisms and influencing factors from the perspectives of both the PEMFC system and the stack. On this basis, this paper offers targeted solutions to degradation issues stemming from various aging factors and presents research on aging prediction methods to proactively mitigate aging-related problems. Furthermore, to enhance prediction accuracy, this paper categorizes and analyzes the degradation index and accuracy evaluation criteria commonly employed in the existing fuel cell aging research. The results indicate that specific factors leading to aging-related failures are often addressed via targeted solving methods, corresponding to specific degradation indexes. The significance of this study lies in the following aspects: (1) investigating the aging factors in fuel cells and elucidating the multiple aging mechanisms occurring within fuel cells; (2) proposing preventive measures, solutions, and aging prediction methods tailored to address fuel cell aging issues comprehensively, thereby mitigating potential harm; and (3) summarizing the degradation index and accuracy evaluation standards for aging prediction, offering new perspectives for resolving fuel cell aging problems.