Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell degradation in ships: Review of degradation mechanisms and research gaps

Sustainability regulations urge the maritime sector to implement green technologies. The integration of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) systems is a promising solution to cut emissions. However, their degradation in maritime environments is rarely addressed, while the environment differs significantly from land-based or automotive contexts and can greatly affect the type and extent of damage. Research in this field is especially relevant as ships often operate in isolated areas and require durable and reliable power propulsion systems. This work collects the insights from existing PEMFC durability research and analyzes degradation mechanisms specifically relevant for the maritime field. We consider air and fuel contamination, maritime load profiles, and vessel motions as potential causes. Insightful schematics summarize the content by linking these causes to damage indicators. Moreover, we identify various areas for further research including degradation from interconnected effects of maritime drive cycles, marine air salinity, hydrogen-carriers and their residues, long term maritime vibrations, and dynamic inclination. The overview of existing literature combines insights from electrochemistry and maritime research while the knowledge gaps help to prioritize future research. Together, these elements promote collaboration in this multidisciplinary field, advancing mitigation strategies and improving cell, stack, and ship design and operation. Such improvements encourage PEMFCs application in ships and support the move towards zero-emission shipping.