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Title: Revealing the Internal Architecture of Alkaline Fuel Cell Membranes with Cryo-4D-STEM and Cryo-STEM-EELS

Journal Article · · Microscopy and Microanalysis
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  1. Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States)
  2. Carnegie Mellon Univ., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
  3. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
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Characterization of the internal architecture of polymer materials plays an important role in the development of energy devices such as fuel cells. The beam sensitivity of polymer materials coupled with their inherent low contrast makes imaging using conventional TEM and STEM techniques a challenge. Here, we demonstrate robust mapping of the internal architecture of fuel cell polymer membranes using cryo-4D-STEM and cryo-STEM-EELS. Here, we will focus on characterization of alkaline anion exchange membranes (AAEMs) used in AAEM fuel cells, a cheaper alternative to current fuel cell technologies as they allow for platinum group metal-free catalysts. In fuel cell polymer membranes, the internal architecture is critical in performance metrics such as conductivity, mechanical durability, and chemical stability.

Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308
OSTI ID:
2000015
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA--5900-87464; MainId:88239; UUID:11fc6934-f4d6-4f1a-b19a-9cf071804806; MainAdminID:70579
Journal Information:
Microscopy and Microanalysis, Journal Name: Microscopy and Microanalysis Journal Issue: Supplement_1 Vol. 29; ISSN 1431-9276
Publisher:
Microscopy Society of America (MSA)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (5)

Very-High Dynamic Range, 10,000 Frames/Second Pixel Array Detector for Electron Microscopy journal March 2022
Signal Enhancement of Low-Dose Cryogenic 4D-STEM Data for Mapping of Beam Sensitive Materials journal August 2022
Electrocatalysis in Alkaline Media and Alkaline Membrane-Based Energy Technologies journal February 2022
Multiblock Copolymer Anion-Exchange Membranes Derived from Vinyl Addition Polynorbornenes journal September 2021
Parallel cylindrical water nanochannels in Nafion fuel-cell membranes journal December 2007

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Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
alkaline anion exchange membranes
chemical stability
conductivity
cryo-4D-STEM
cryo-STEM-EELS
fuel cell polymer membranes
mechanical durability
polymer materials