In-Situ through-Plane Measurements of Ionic Potential Distributions in Non-Precious Metal Catalyst Electrode for PEFC

Komini Babu, S.; Chung, H. T.; Zelenay, P.; Litster, S.

doi:10.1149/06917.0023ecst

Title: In-Situ through-Plane Measurements of Ionic Potential Distributions in Non-Precious Metal Catalyst Electrode for PEFC

Abstract

This manuscript presents micro-scale experimental diagnostics and nano-scale resolution X-ray imaging applied to the study of proton conduction in non-precious metal catalyst (NPMC) fuel cell cathodes. NPMC’s have the potential to reduce the cost of the fuel cell for multiple applications. But, NPMC electrodes are inherently thick compared to the convention Pt/C electrode due to the lower volumetric activity. Thus, the electric potential drop through the Nafion across the electrode thickness can yield significant performance loss. Ionomer distributions in the NPMC electrodes with different ionomer loading are extracted from morphological data using nanoscale X-ray computed tomography (nano-XCT) imaging of the cathode. Microstructured electrode scaffold (MES) diagnostics are used to measure the electrolyte potential at discrete points across the thickness of the catalyst layer. When using that apparatus, the electrolyte potential drop, the through-thickness reaction distribution, and the proton conductivity are measured and correlated with the corresponding Nafion morphology and cell performance.

Authors:

Komini Babu, S. ^[1]; Chung, H. T. ^[2]; Zelenay, P. ^[2]; Litster, S. ^[1]

Carnegie Mellon Univ., Pittsburgh, PA (United States). Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States). Materials Physics and Applications

Publication Date:: Mon Sep 14 00:00:00 EDT 2015

Research Org.:: Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). Fuel Cell Technologies Program (EE-3F)

OSTI Identifier:: 1392881

Report Number(s):: LA-UR-17-24487
Journal ID: ISSN 1938-6737

Grant/Contract Number:: AC52-06NA25396

Resource Type:: Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:: ECS Transactions (Online)

Additional Journal Information:: Journal Name: ECS Transactions (Online); Journal Volume: 69; Journal Issue: 17; Journal ID: ISSN 1938-6737

Publisher:: Electrochemical Society

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; Energy Sciences

Citation Formats


                    Komini Babu, S., Chung, H. T., Zelenay, P., and Litster, S. In-Situ through-Plane Measurements of Ionic Potential Distributions in Non-Precious Metal Catalyst Electrode for PEFC.  United States: N. p., 2015. 
Web.  doi:10.1149/06917.0023ecst.

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                    Komini Babu, S., Chung, H. T., Zelenay, P., & Litster, S. In-Situ through-Plane Measurements of Ionic Potential Distributions in Non-Precious Metal Catalyst Electrode for PEFC.  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1149/06917.0023ecst

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                    Komini Babu, S., Chung, H. T., Zelenay, P., and Litster, S. Mon .  
"In-Situ through-Plane Measurements of Ionic Potential Distributions in Non-Precious Metal Catalyst Electrode for PEFC".  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1149/06917.0023ecst.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1392881.

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@article{osti_1392881,

  title        = {In-Situ through-Plane Measurements of Ionic Potential Distributions in Non-Precious Metal Catalyst Electrode for PEFC},

  author       = {Komini Babu, S. and Chung, H. T. and Zelenay, P. and Litster, S.},

  abstractNote = {This manuscript presents micro-scale experimental diagnostics and nano-scale resolution X-ray imaging applied to the study of proton conduction in non-precious metal catalyst (NPMC) fuel cell cathodes. NPMC’s have the potential to reduce the cost of the fuel cell for multiple applications. But, NPMC electrodes are inherently thick compared to the convention Pt/C electrode due to the lower volumetric activity. Thus, the electric potential drop through the Nafion across the electrode thickness can yield significant performance loss. Ionomer distributions in the NPMC electrodes with different ionomer loading are extracted from morphological data using nanoscale X-ray computed tomography (nano-XCT) imaging of the cathode. Microstructured electrode scaffold (MES) diagnostics are used to measure the electrolyte potential at discrete points across the thickness of the catalyst layer. When using that apparatus, the electrolyte potential drop, the through-thickness reaction distribution, and the proton conductivity are measured and correlated with the corresponding Nafion morphology and cell performance.},

  doi          = {10.1149/06917.0023ecst},

  journal      = {ECS Transactions (Online)},

  number       = 17,

  volume       = 69,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {Mon Sep 14 00:00:00 EDT 2015},

  month        = {Mon Sep 14 00:00:00 EDT 2015}

}

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Works referencing / citing this record:

Integrating PGM‐Free Catalysts into Catalyst Layers and Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Devices
journal, December 2018

Banham, Dustin; Choi, Ja‐Yeon; Kishimoto, Takeaki
Advanced Materials, Vol. 31, Issue 31
DOI: 10.1002/adma.201804846

Ionic Conductivity over Metal/Water Interfaces in Ionomer‐Free Fuel Cell Electrodes
journal, April 2019

Hu, Leiming; Zhang, Muxing; Komini Babu, Siddharth
ChemElectroChem, Vol. 6, Issue 10
DOI: 10.1002/celc.201900124

Critical Review—Experimental Diagnostics and Material Characterization Techniques Used on Redox Flow Batteries
journal, January 2018

Gandomi, Y. Ashraf; Aaron, D. S.; Houser, J. R.
Journal of The Electrochemical Society, Vol. 165, Issue 5
DOI: 10.1149/2.0601805jes

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Title: In-Situ through-Plane Measurements of Ionic Potential Distributions in Non-Precious Metal Catalyst Electrode for PEFC

Abstract

Citation Formats

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