| abstract |
The present invention relates to a process for increasing an ion exchange membrane's resistance to peroxide radical attack in a fuel cell environment comprising the use of catalytically active components capable of decomposing hydrogen peroxide as well as a method for preparing a catalytically active component for use therein. Thus, a process has been developed for reducing or preventing proton exchange membrane degradation due to its interaction with hydrogen peroxide, where the catalytically active components serve as hydrogen peroxide scavengers to protect the PEM from chemical reaction with hydrogen peroxide by decomposing the hydrogen peroxide to H2O and O2 rather than the radicals that degrade the PEM. |