1
|
Aliyah K, Appel C, Lazaridis T, Prehal C, Ammann M, Xu L, Guizar-Sicairos M, Gubler L, Büchi FN, Eller J. Operando Scanning Small-/Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells: Investigation of Catalyst Layer Saturation and Membrane Hydration- Capabilities and Challenges. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:25938-25952. [PMID: 38740377 PMCID: PMC11129111 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c11173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Polymer electrolyte fuel cells are an essential technology for future local emission-free mobility. One of the critical challenges for thriving commercialization is water management in the cells. We propose small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering as a suitable diagnostic tool to quantify the liquid saturation in the catalyst layer and determine the hydration of the ion-conducting membrane in real operating conditions. The challenges that may occur in operando data collection are described in detail─separation of the anode and cathode, cell alignment to the beam, X-ray radiation damage, and the possibility of membrane swelling. A synergistic development of experimental setup, data acquisition, and data interpretation circumvents the major challenges and leads to practical and reliable insights.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kinanti Aliyah
- Electrochemistry
Laboratory, Paul Scherrer Institut, CH-5232, Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Christian Appel
- Photon
Science Division, Swiss Light Source, Paul
Scherrer Institut, CH-5232, Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Timon Lazaridis
- Chair
of Technical Electrochemistry, Department of Chemistry and Catalysis
Research Center, Technical University of
Munich, Munich 80333, Germany
| | - Christian Prehal
- Department
of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, ETH Zurich, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Martin Ammann
- Electrochemistry
Laboratory, Paul Scherrer Institut, CH-5232, Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Linfeng Xu
- Electrochemistry
Laboratory, Paul Scherrer Institut, CH-5232, Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Manuel Guizar-Sicairos
- Photon
Science Division, Swiss Light Source, Paul
Scherrer Institut, CH-5232, Villigen, Switzerland
- Institute
of Physics, École Polytechnique Fédérale
de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne 1015, Switzerland
| | - Lorenz Gubler
- Electrochemistry
Laboratory, Paul Scherrer Institut, CH-5232, Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Felix N. Büchi
- Electrochemistry
Laboratory, Paul Scherrer Institut, CH-5232, Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Jens Eller
- Electrochemistry
Laboratory, Paul Scherrer Institut, CH-5232, Villigen, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Aliyah K, Prehal C, Diercks JS, Diklić N, Xu L, Ünsal S, Appel C, Pauw BR, Smales GJ, Guizar-Sicairos M, Herranz J, Gubler L, Büchi FN, Eller J. Quantification of PEFC Catalyst Layer Saturation via In Silico, Ex Situ, and In Situ Small-Angle X-ray Scattering. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023. [PMID: 37229747 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c00420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The complex nature of liquid water saturation of polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) catalyst layers (CLs) greatly affects the device performance. To investigate this problem, we present a method to quantify the presence of liquid water in a PEFC CL using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). This method leverages the differences in electron densities between the solid catalyst matrix and the liquid water filled pores of the CL under both dry and wet conditions. This approach is validated using ex situ wetting experiments, which aid the study of the transient saturation of a CL in a flow cell configuration in situ. The azimuthally integrated scattering data are fitted using 3D morphology models of the CL under dry conditions. Different wetting scenarios are realized in silico, and the corresponding SAXS data are numerically simulated by a direct 3D Fourier transformation. The simulated SAXS profiles of the different wetting scenarios are used to interpret the measured SAXS data which allows the derivation of the most probable wetting mechanism within a flow cell electrode.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kinanti Aliyah
- Electrochemistry Laboratory, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen PSI 5232, Switzerland
| | - Christian Prehal
- Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, ETH Zürich, Zürich 8092, Switzerland
| | - Justus S Diercks
- Electrochemistry Laboratory, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen PSI 5232, Switzerland
| | - Nataša Diklić
- Electrochemistry Laboratory, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen PSI 5232, Switzerland
| | - Linfeng Xu
- Electrochemistry Laboratory, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen PSI 5232, Switzerland
| | - Seçil Ünsal
- Electrochemistry Laboratory, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen PSI 5232, Switzerland
| | - Christian Appel
- Photon Science Division, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen PSI 5232, Switzerland
| | - Brian R Pauw
- Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Berlin 12205, Germany
| | - Glen J Smales
- Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Berlin 12205, Germany
| | | | - Juan Herranz
- Electrochemistry Laboratory, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen PSI 5232, Switzerland
| | - Lorenz Gubler
- Electrochemistry Laboratory, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen PSI 5232, Switzerland
| | - Felix N Büchi
- Electrochemistry Laboratory, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen PSI 5232, Switzerland
| | - Jens Eller
- Electrochemistry Laboratory, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen PSI 5232, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Larichev YV. Development of Small-Angle X-Ray Scattering Methods for Analysis of Supported Catalysts and Nanocomposites. KINETICS AND CATALYSIS 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s0023158421060100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
|
4
|
Gommes CJ, Chattot R, Drnec J. Stochastic models of dense or hollow nanoparticles and their scattering properties. J Appl Crystallogr 2020; 53:811-823. [PMID: 32684896 DOI: 10.1107/s1600576720005464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
A family of stochastic models of disordered particles is proposed, obtained by clipping a Gaussian random field with a function that is space dependent. Depending on the shape of the clipping function, dense or hollow particles can be modelled. General expressions are derived for the form factor of the particles, for their average volume and surface area, and for their density and surface-area distributions against the distance to the particle centre. A general approximation for the form factor is also introduced, based on the density and surface-area distributions, which coincides with the Guinier and Porod expressions in the limits of low and high scattering vector magnitude q. The models are illustrated with the fitting of small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) data measured on Pt/Ni hollow nanoparticles. The SAXS analysis and modelling notably capture the collapse of the particles' porosity after being used as oxygen-reduction catalysts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cedric J Gommes
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Liège B6A, 3 Allée du six Août, B-4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Raphael Chattot
- ID31, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Jakub Drnec
- ID31, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, 38000 Grenoble, France
| |
Collapse
|