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Thin film surface modifications of thin/tunable liquid/gas diffusion layers for high-efficiency proton exchange membrane electrolyzer cells

Author

Listed:
  • Kang, Zhenye
  • Mo, Jingke
  • Yang, Gaoqiang
  • Li, Yifan
  • Talley, Derrick A.
  • Retterer, Scott T.
  • Cullen, David A.
  • Toops, Todd J.
  • Brady, Michael P.
  • Bender, Guido
  • Pivovar, Bryan S.
  • Green, Johney B.
  • Zhang, Feng-Yuan

Abstract

A proton exchange membrane electrolyzer cell (PEMEC) is one of the most promising devices for high-efficiency and low-cost energy storage and ultrahigh purity hydrogen production. As one of the critical components in PEMECs, the titanium thin/tunable LGDL (TT-LGDL) with its advantages of small thickness, planar surface, straight-through pores, and well-controlled pore morphologies, achieved superior multifunctional performance for hydrogen and oxygen production from water splitting even at low temperature. Different thin film surface treatments on the novel TT-LGDLs for enhancing the interfacial contacts and PEMEC performance were investigated both in-situ and ex-situ for the first time. Surface modified TT-LGDLs with about 180nm thick Au thin film yielded performance improvement (voltage reduction), from 1.6849V with untreated TT-LGDLs to only 1.6328V with treated TT-LGDLs at 2.0A/cm2 and 80°C. Furthermore, the hydrogen/oxygen production rate was increased by about 28.2% at 1.60V and 80°C. The durability test demonstrated that the surface treated TT-LGDL has good stability as well. The gold electroplating surface treatment is a promising method for the PEMEC performance enhancement and titanium material protection even in harsh environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Kang, Zhenye & Mo, Jingke & Yang, Gaoqiang & Li, Yifan & Talley, Derrick A. & Retterer, Scott T. & Cullen, David A. & Toops, Todd J. & Brady, Michael P. & Bender, Guido & Pivovar, Bryan S. & Green, Jo, 2017. "Thin film surface modifications of thin/tunable liquid/gas diffusion layers for high-efficiency proton exchange membrane electrolyzer cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 983-990.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:206:y:2017:i:c:p:983-990
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.09.004
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