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Zhang X, Truong-Phuoc L, Asset T, Pronkin S, Pham-Huu C. Are Fe–N–C Electrocatalysts an Alternative to Pt-Based Electrocatalysts for the Next Generation of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells? ACS Catal 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.2c02146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiong Zhang
- Institute of Chemistry and Processes for Energy, Environment and Health (ICPEES), UMR 7515 CNRS-Université de Strasbourg, 25 rue Becquerel, 67087 Strasbourg Cedex
02, France
| | - Lai Truong-Phuoc
- Institute of Chemistry and Processes for Energy, Environment and Health (ICPEES), UMR 7515 CNRS-Université de Strasbourg, 25 rue Becquerel, 67087 Strasbourg Cedex
02, France
| | - Tristan Asset
- Institute of Chemistry and Processes for Energy, Environment and Health (ICPEES), UMR 7515 CNRS-Université de Strasbourg, 25 rue Becquerel, 67087 Strasbourg Cedex
02, France
| | - Sergey Pronkin
- Institute of Chemistry and Processes for Energy, Environment and Health (ICPEES), UMR 7515 CNRS-Université de Strasbourg, 25 rue Becquerel, 67087 Strasbourg Cedex
02, France
| | - Cuong Pham-Huu
- Institute of Chemistry and Processes for Energy, Environment and Health (ICPEES), UMR 7515 CNRS-Université de Strasbourg, 25 rue Becquerel, 67087 Strasbourg Cedex
02, France
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Tang K, Meyer Q, White R, Armstrong RT, Mostaghimi P, Da Wang Y, Liu S, Zhao C, Regenauer-Lieb K, Tung PKM. Deep learning for full-feature X-ray microcomputed tomography segmentation of proton electron membrane fuel cells. Comput Chem Eng 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.compchemeng.2022.107768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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High-speed 4D neutron computed tomography for quantifying water dynamics in polymer electrolyte fuel cells. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1616. [PMID: 35338141 PMCID: PMC8956593 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29313-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, low-temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cells have become an increasingly important pillar in a zero-carbon strategy for curbing climate change, with their potential to power multiscale stationary and mobile applications. The performance improvement is a particular focus of research and engineering roadmaps, with water management being one of the major areas of interest for development. Appropriate characterisation tools for mapping the evolution, motion and removal of water are of high importance to tackle shortcomings. This article demonstrates the development of a 4D high-speed neutron imaging technique, which enables a quantitative analysis of the local water evolution. 4D visualisation allows the time-resolved studies of droplet formation in the flow fields and water quantification in various cell parts. Performance parameters for water management are identified that offer a method of cell classification, which will, in turn, support computer modelling and the engineering of next-generation flow field designs. Characterisation of water dynamics in polymer electrolyte fuel cells is important for technology development. Here, the authors demonstrate a 4D neutron imaging technique, enabling quantitative analysis of the local water evolution, and identify performance parameters for water management.
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Zhu H, Sun Z, Cao H, Wang B, Zhao J, Pan J, Xu G, Jin Z, Yan F. Highly Conductive and Dimensionally Stable Anion Exchange Membranes Based on Poly(dimethoxybenzene- co-methyl 4-formylbenzoate) Ionomers. Macromolecules 2021. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.1c00704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Hairong Zhu
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Zhe Sun
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Huixing Cao
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Bowen Wang
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Junliang Zhao
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Ji Pan
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Guodong Xu
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Zhiyu Jin
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Feng Yan
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
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Chen YC, Berger A, De Angelis S, Schuler T, Bozzetti M, Eller J, Tileli V, Schmidt TJ, Büchi FN. A Method for Spatial Quantification of Water in Microporous Layers of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells by X-ray Tomographic Microscopy. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:16227-16237. [PMID: 33724768 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c22358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
A microporous layer (MPL) is typically added to the gas diffusion layer of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) to promote cell performance and water management. The transport mechanism of the water through the MPL is, however, not well understood due to its small pores (20-500 nm). Here, we demonstrate that polychromatic X-ray tomographic microscopy (XTM) can be used to determine the porosity and the spatial distribution of water in nanoporous materials and can quantitatively map the liquid water saturation of MPLs. The presented technique requires no a priori knowledge of the composition of the MPL and has a field of view on the millimeter scale, which is orders of magnitude larger than conventional electron microscopy techniques for nanoscale materials. The available field of view is compatible with existing operando cells for X-ray tomography, paving the way for the analysis of water transport in MPLs during operation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yen-Chun Chen
- Electrochemistry Laboratory, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen CH-5232, Switzerland
| | - Anne Berger
- Chair of Technical Electrochemistry, Department of Chemistry and Catalysis Research Center, Technical University of Munich, Garching D-85748, Germany
| | - Salvatore De Angelis
- Electrochemistry Laboratory, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen CH-5232, Switzerland
| | - Tobias Schuler
- Electrochemistry Laboratory, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen CH-5232, Switzerland
| | - Michele Bozzetti
- Institute of Materials, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland
| | - Jens Eller
- Electrochemistry Laboratory, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen CH-5232, Switzerland
| | - Vasiliki Tileli
- Institute of Materials, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne CH-1015, Switzerland
| | - Thomas J Schmidt
- Electrochemistry Laboratory, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen CH-5232, Switzerland
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zürich, Zürich CH-8093, Switzerland
| | - Felix N Büchi
- Electrochemistry Laboratory, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen CH-5232, Switzerland
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6
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Inoue G, Takenaka S. Design of Interfaces and Phase Interfaces on Cathode Catalysts for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells. CHEM LETT 2021. [DOI: 10.1246/cl.200649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Gen Inoue
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Sakae Takenaka
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Doshisha University, 1-3 Tatara-Miyakodani, Kyotanabe, Kyoto 610-0321, Japan
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7
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Use of X-ray computed tomography for understanding localised, along-the-channel degradation of polymer electrolyte fuel cells. Electrochim Acta 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2020.136464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Meyer Q, Zeng Y, Zhao C. In Situ and Operando Characterization of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2019; 31:e1901900. [PMID: 31373051 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201901900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Revised: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
For proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) to become a mainstream energy source, significant improvements in their performance, durability, and efficiency are necessary. To improve their durability, there must be a solid understanding of how the structural and electrochemical processes are affected during operation to propose mitigation strategies. To this aim, in situ and operando characterization techniques can locally identify structural and electrochemical processes, which cannot be captured using conventional techniques. Linking these properties in the same geometric area has been challenging due to its inherent limitations, such as sample size and imaging resolution. This has created a knowledge gap in structure-to-electrochemical performance relationships as operation and degradation unevenly affect different areas of the cell. In the recent past, catalyst layer degradation, hot spots, and water management have been structurally and electrochemically visualized in the same geometric area, revealing new interactions. To further the research in this direction, these interconnected fields are reviewed, followed by a roadmap for in situ characterization of PEMFCs, treating structural and electrochemical processes as a unified subject. With this approach, the knowledge of the degradation of PEMFCs will be significantly improved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quentin Meyer
- School of Chemistry, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia
| | - Yachao Zeng
- School of Chemistry, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia
| | - Chuan Zhao
- School of Chemistry, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia
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