Influence of the dwell time in the polarization hysteresis of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

•Cell voltage hysteresis in PEM fuel cells are investigated by EIS and equivalent circuits.•Hysteresis is dominated by changes in concentration polarization at low current densities.•Hysteresis is dominated by changes in activation polarization at high current densities.•Cell ohmic resistance (and membrane hydration) is presenting a minor effect.•Dwell time has an influence in the cell voltage hysteresis. The extent of the cell voltage hysteresis observed in polarization curves of PEM fuel cells and the origins causing this effect are investigated by performing experimental polarization curves with different dwell times for a 50 cm2 PEM fuel cell. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy measurements are carried out in order to determine the relative contributions of the different polarizations (ohmic, activation, and concentration polarization). Equivalent circuits were obtained from the impedance spectra, where the interpretation of the circuit parameters enabled the analysis of the origin and extent of the cell voltage hysteresis. It was identified that the cause of the cell voltage hysteresis is actually dominated by the changes in the concentration polarization at low current densities, and by the changes in the activation polarization at high current densities. The cell ohmic resistance (and consequently the membrane hydration) presents a minor effect on the cell voltage hysteresis. The effect of the dwell time in the cell voltage hysteresis (with values ranging from 15 to 25 mV) presents a mixed trend, with an initial decrease for increasing dwell times from 120 to 600 s, and a later increase and a final almost constant hysteresis for longer dwell times.