Advancing EIS-based characterization of PEMFCs through model-based DoE and parameter sensitivity analysis

Voglar, Tit (author), Kravos, Andraž (author), Katrašnik, Tomaž (author)

Efficient parameterization of fuel cell (FC) models is essential for reducing experimental cost and time. Although several design of experiments (DoE) methodologies exist for time-domain models, frequency-domain DoE using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) remains largely unexplored. To address this gap, we advance EIS-based PEMFC characterization by combining a physicochemically consistent frequency-domain model with model-based DoE and parameter sensitivity analysis. This integration enables systematic assessment of the identifiability of calibration parameters, including intrinsic current densities, double-layer capacitances, and proton conductivities, as well as the construction of a reduced experimental operating space based on parameter sensitivities. Using the DoE methodology, 20 optimally selected points achieve up to a 28-fold increase in calibration-parameter information compared to the full experimental dataset, thereby reducing the number of required measurement points while retaining or improving parameter identifiability. Moreover, frequency analysis reveals that the dominant sensitivity of model parameters lies above 1 Hz, enabling further measurement time reduction by up to 100-fold without an increase in parameter variance. The resulting enhancement in parameter identifiability is expected to support internal-state observability and future use of the model, together with the proposed model-based DoE methodology, in virtual-sensor-based intra-cell State-of-X diagnostics.

• Language: English
• Keywords: PEM fuel cells, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, model-based design of experiments, parameter sensitivity analysis, SoX diagnostics
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FS - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: 12 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 690, art. 240788
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-184816
• UDC: 621.352.6:543.428
• ISSN on article: 0378-7753
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2026.240788
• COBISS.SI-ID: 284897795
• Publication date in RUL: 15.07.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Journal of power sources
• Shortened title: J. power sources
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0378-7753
• COBISS.SI-ID: 25782784

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: gorivne celice, protonske izmenjevalne membrane, elektrokemična impedančna spektroskopija, modelsko zasnovano načrtovanje poskusov, analiza občutljivosti parametrov, SoX diagnostika