The performance degradation is probed for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) exposed to 4 ppm HCl in air at cell voltages of 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6 V. While the steady-state cell current decreases by 90% for the cells held at 0.6 V, it only decreases by 17% when the cells are at 0.4 V. We hypothesize that Cl − poisoning is more pronounced at 0.6 V vs. 0.4 V due to increase in Cl − coverage of the Pt nanoparticle electrocatalysts as the cell voltage (and electrode potential) becomes more positive, implying chemisorption coupled to an electrostatic effect. Chloride coverage increases by ca. 30% as cell voltage increases from 0.4 to 0.6 V. Further losses are caused by a 12% decrease in Pt electrochemical surface area (ECSA) due to Pt dissolution to chloroplatinate ions, followed by growth and agglomeration of Pt nanoparticles.The performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) in the marine environment can be compromised by sodium chloride, a major component of sea water and air mists. 1 Chloride ions can also be introduced into the fuel cell as a by-product in the hydrogen produced from chlor-alkali plants. 2 Chloride ions inhibit the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the FC cathode, affecting the ORR both in the kinetic and the diffusion regions. 3-6 Inhibition of the ORR in the kinetic region at the FC cathode is accompanied by the generation of hydrogen peroxide, which is detrimental for fuel cell performance. Increase in hydrogen peroxide generation in the presence of chloride ions at the FC cathode was recently confirmed by an increase in fluoride release rate in the FC effluent water, attributed to break down of the perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) membrane by peroxide radicals. 7 In addition to inhibiting the ORR and affecting its mechanism, chloride ions promote dissolution of carbon-supported Pt nanoparticles (Pt/VC), causing irreversible loss of Pt ECSA. 1,4,5,7 Previously, we explored the mechanisms of the influence of chloride ions on the FC cathode degradation, and methods for performance recovery. 3 Chloride ions were introduced into the air stream in the form of gaseous HCl premixed with air. The cell was held at a voltage of 0.6 V, and the FC cathode was exposed to 4 ppm HCl in air for 24 h. Through a combination of methods including electrochemistry, ex-situ X-Ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), we found that HCl poisoning results in the generation of chloride and chloroplatinate ions on the surface of Pt/VC catalysts. While chloride ions are responsible for inhibiting the ORR via adsorption and changing wetting properties of the diffusion media/catalyst layer, 6 the chloroplatinate ions promote the growth of Pt nanoparticles likely due to a Pt dissolution-redeposition mechanism. We found that chloroplatinate ions can be generated both by electrochemical and chemical mechanisms. Electrochemical Pt dissolution to PtCl 6 2− ions occurs according to Eq. 1,where E 0 and SHE stand for the standard equilibri...