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Using operando techniques to understand and design high performance and stable alkaline membrane fuel cells

Author

Listed:
  • Xiong Peng

    (University of South Carolina)

  • Devashish Kulkarni

    (University of California Irvine)

  • Ying Huang

    (University of California Irvine)

  • Travis J. Omasta

    (University of South Carolina)

  • Benjamin Ng

    (University of South Carolina)

  • Yiwei Zheng

    (University of South Carolina)

  • Lianqin Wang

    (University of Surrey)

  • Jacob M. LaManna

    (National Institute for Standards and Technology)

  • Daniel S. Hussey

    (National Institute for Standards and Technology)

  • John R. Varcoe

    (University of Surrey)

  • Iryna V. Zenyuk

    (University of California Irvine
    University of California Irvine)

  • William E. Mustain

    (University of South Carolina)

Abstract

There is a need to understand the water dynamics of alkaline membrane fuel cells under various operating conditions to create electrodes that enable high performance and stable, long-term operation. Here we show, via operando neutron imaging and operando micro X-ray computed tomography, visualizations of the spatial and temporal distribution of liquid water in operating cells. We provide direct evidence for liquid water accumulation at the anode, which causes severe ionomer swelling and performance loss, as well as cell dryout from undesirably low water content in the cathode. We observe that the operating conditions leading to the highest power density during polarization are not generally the conditions that allow for long-term stable operation. This observation leads to new catalyst layer designs and gas diffusion layers. This study reports alkaline membrane fuel cells that can be operated continuously for over 1000 h at 600 mA cm−2 with voltage decay rate of only 32-μV h−1 – the best-reported durability to date.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiong Peng & Devashish Kulkarni & Ying Huang & Travis J. Omasta & Benjamin Ng & Yiwei Zheng & Lianqin Wang & Jacob M. LaManna & Daniel S. Hussey & John R. Varcoe & Iryna V. Zenyuk & William E. Mustain, 2020. "Using operando techniques to understand and design high performance and stable alkaline membrane fuel cells," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-17370-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17370-7
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    Cited by:

    1. Wang, Mingli & Ruan, Jiafen & Zhang, Jian & Jiang, Yefan & Gao, Fei & Zhang, Xin & Rahman, Ehsanur & Guo, Juncheng, 2024. "Modeling, thermodynamic performance analysis, and parameter optimization of a hybrid power generation system coupling thermogalvanic cells with alkaline fuel cells," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    2. Chen, Xin & Zhang, Ying & Xu, Sheng & Dong, Fei, 2023. "Bibliometric analysis for research trends and hotspots in heat and mass transfer and its management of proton exchange membrane fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 333(C).
    3. Zhu, Huichao & Zhang, Houcheng, 2023. "Upgrading the low-grade waste heat from alkaline fuel cells via isopropanol-acetone-hydrogen chemical heat pumps," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 265(C).

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