A high temperature electrochemical cell includes a solid electrolyte separating a cathode and an anode, an anode flow field adjacent the anode, a cathode flow field, having an exhaust gas stream pathway, downstream from the cathode, and a thermal management system including a controller programmed to, in response to the exhaust gas stream temperature input, activate at least one component, configured to reduce temperature of the exhaust gas stream to a temperature within a threshold range corresponding to a temperature range promoting condensation of Cr-containing gas into solid, liquid, or aqueous Cr2O3 and H2CrO4, the high temperature electrochemical cell having an operating temperature of about 600-1000° C.