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Hasanpour S, Rashidi A, Walsh T, Pagan E, Milani AS, Akbari M, Djilali N. Electrode-Integrated Textile-Based Sensors for In Situ Temperature and Relative Humidity Monitoring in Electrochemical Cells. ACS OMEGA 2021; 6:9509-9519. [PMID: 33869931 PMCID: PMC8047690 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c06309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Temperature and humidity measurements in electrochemical energy devices are essential for maximizing their overall performance under different operating conditions and avoiding hazardous consequences that may arise from the malfunction of these systems. Using sensors for in situ measurements of temperature and relative humidity (RH) is a promising approach for continuous monitoring and management of electrochemical power sources. Here, we report on the feasibility of using thread-based sensors for in situ measurements of temperature and RH in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) as an example of electrochemical energy devices. Commodity threads are low-cost and flexible materials that hold great promise for the creation of complex three-dimensional (3D) circuits using well-established textile methods such as weaving, braiding, and embroidering. Ex situ and in situ characterization show that threads can be introduced in the gas diffusion layer (GDL) structure to inscribe water highways within the GDL with minimal impact on the GDL microstructure and transport properties. Fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) is coated on thread-based sensors to decouple the response to temperature and humidity; the resulting threads achieve a linear change of resistance with temperature (-0.31%/°C), while RH is monitored with a second thread coated with poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). The combination of both threads allows for minimally invasive and dynamically responsive monitoring of local temperature and RH within the electrode of PEMFCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadegh Hasanpour
- Laboratory
for Innovations in Microengineering (LiME), Department of Mechanical
Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada
- Department
of Mechanical Engineering and Institute for Integrated Energy System, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 3P6, Canada
| | - Armin Rashidi
- Composites
Research Network-Okanagan Node (CRN), School of Engineering, University of British Columbia, 3333, University Way, Kelowna, British Columbia V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Tavia Walsh
- Laboratory
for Innovations in Microengineering (LiME), Department of Mechanical
Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Erik Pagan
- Laboratory
for Innovations in Microengineering (LiME), Department of Mechanical
Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Abbas S. Milani
- Composites
Research Network-Okanagan Node (CRN), School of Engineering, University of British Columbia, 3333, University Way, Kelowna, British Columbia V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Mohsen Akbari
- Laboratory
for Innovations in Microengineering (LiME), Department of Mechanical
Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada
- Biotechnology
Center, Silesian University of Technology, Akademicka 2A, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
| | - Ned Djilali
- Department
of Mechanical Engineering and Institute for Integrated Energy System, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 3P6, Canada
- Institute
of Engineering Thermophysics, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China
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Muirhead D, Banerjee R, George MG, Ge N, Shrestha P, Liu H, Lee J, Bazylak A. Liquid water saturation and oxygen transport resistance in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell gas diffusion layers. Electrochim Acta 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2018.04.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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