NOVELTY - The method comprises supplying a fuel cell with a first flow of fuel comprising hydrogen for a first period and resulting in the definition of a first slope of a curve indicating a change in voltage of the cell as a function of time, supplying the cell with a second flow of fuel comprising hydrogen and a quantity of polluting species containing sulfur for a second period and resulting in a defining of a second slope of the curve indicating the change in voltage of the cell as a function of time, and regenerating a catalytic electrode comprising the elimination of the polluting species.    USE - The method is useful for increasing lifespan of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (claimed) that is useful in an automotive application.    ADVANTAGE - The method is capable of simply and economically preventing the reduction of oxygen at an anode so as to reduce and eliminate carbon corrosion of a cathode and degradation of the proton exchange membrane without degrading the performance of the cell.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The method comprises supplying a fuel cell with a first flow of fuel comprising hydrogen for a first period and resulting in the definition of a first slope of a curve indicating a change in voltage of the cell as a function of time, supplying the cell with a second flow of fuel comprising hydrogen and a quantity of polluting species containing sulfur for a second period and resulting in a defining of a second slope of the curve indicating the change in voltage of the cell as a function of time, where a ratio of the second slope over the first slope is strictly greater than a value of 1, and the second phase generates the capture of polluting species by a catalytic electrode, and regenerating the catalytic electrode comprising the elimination of the polluting species, where the fuel cell is supplied with fuel with the catalytic electrode comprising carbon and a catalyst made from noble metal such as platinum or palladium or ruthenium, and a measuring unit measures the voltage of the cell. The first fuel flow comprising hydrogen is reformed. The first fuel stream comprises a first amount of hydrogen sulfide (H2S). The second fuel flow comprises a second amount of H2S, where the second amount is greater than the first amount. The regenerating step comprises the application of a power pulse in the cell by a potentio static operation of an external load and a voltammetry cycle of the catalytic electrode to achieve the potential for oxidation of the pollutant species. The regenerating step further includes following sequence of steps: reducing a third fuel flow from a nominal value to a first value corresponding to a first stoichiometry period, bringing the electrode potential of the catalyst from an initial value to the first value greater than or equal to the oxidation potential of the polluting species; increasing the third fuel flow corresponding to a second value during a second stoichiometry period to accelerate the flow of fuel to a catalytic anode; and returning the third fuel flow to the nominal value for the reaction of the fuel to the catalytic electrode. The first and second time periods are in an order of a few minutes. Duration of the first supplying step is greater than or equal to the duration of the second supplying step. The second fuel flow includes an amount of H2S of a few parts per million and a few parts per billion. A second duration of the second supplying step is 30 minutes to 50 hours depending on the concentration of H2S, where the duration is inversely proportional to a concentration of polluting species. The second supply step comprises supplying the second fuel flow comprising the pollutant species without prior determination of the second time period and the amount of polluting species in the second fuel flow to reach the threshold voltage value of the fuel cell during the second time period.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a schematic view of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (Drawing includes non-English language text).    Catalytic layers (3, 4)    Anodic compartment (5)    Cathodic compartment (6)    Gas diffusion layers (7, 8)    Channels. (9, 10)