{"title":"Performance loss due to gas coverage on catalyst surface in polymer electrolyte membrane electrolysis cell","authors":"Daniela Fernanda Ruiz Diaz, Yun Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.etran.2023.100263","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><span><span>In this study, we carry out a fundamental and modeling study to investigate, for the first time, the gas coverage at the catalyst surface<span> and its impacts on performance loss in polymer electrolyte membrane<span><span> electrolysis cells (PEMECs). Oxygen, produced in the anode </span>catalyst layer (CL) through the </span></span></span>oxygen evolution reaction (OER), is removed via the pore network of the anode CL and porous transport layer (PTL) to the flow field. Oxygen gas bubbles can cover the catalyst surface and reduce the area for catalyst OER activity and hence cell performance. To investigate the oxygen bubbles’ impact, we consider various degrees of gas coverage and temperatures (25 °C, 80 °C, and 95 °C) in the range of current density from 0 to 7 A/cm</span><sup>2</sup><span>. We also, for the first time, elucidate the impacts of CL’s material properties on gas coverage morphology in the nano/micropores of CLs. Analytical solutions are derived for the gas fraction and gas composition at different temperatures and pressures. It was found that the gas fraction can be as high as 85% with water vapor contributing to 71% of the total gas coverage when operating at 95 °C and 1 atm. The modeling results indicate the gas coverage can contribute 57% of the total overpotential at 95 °C, 7 A/cm</span><sup>2</sup>, and a coverage coefficient of 7. The work contributes to a fundamental understanding of the impacts of two-phase phenomena on PEMEC performance and is valuable for catalyst layer design and optimization.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":36355,"journal":{"name":"Etransportation","volume":"18 ","pages":"Article 100263"},"PeriodicalIF":15.0000,"publicationDate":"2023-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Etransportation","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590116823000383","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ENERGY & FUELS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
In this study, we carry out a fundamental and modeling study to investigate, for the first time, the gas coverage at the catalyst surface and its impacts on performance loss in polymer electrolyte membrane electrolysis cells (PEMECs). Oxygen, produced in the anode catalyst layer (CL) through the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), is removed via the pore network of the anode CL and porous transport layer (PTL) to the flow field. Oxygen gas bubbles can cover the catalyst surface and reduce the area for catalyst OER activity and hence cell performance. To investigate the oxygen bubbles’ impact, we consider various degrees of gas coverage and temperatures (25 °C, 80 °C, and 95 °C) in the range of current density from 0 to 7 A/cm2. We also, for the first time, elucidate the impacts of CL’s material properties on gas coverage morphology in the nano/micropores of CLs. Analytical solutions are derived for the gas fraction and gas composition at different temperatures and pressures. It was found that the gas fraction can be as high as 85% with water vapor contributing to 71% of the total gas coverage when operating at 95 °C and 1 atm. The modeling results indicate the gas coverage can contribute 57% of the total overpotential at 95 °C, 7 A/cm2, and a coverage coefficient of 7. The work contributes to a fundamental understanding of the impacts of two-phase phenomena on PEMEC performance and is valuable for catalyst layer design and optimization.
期刊介绍:
eTransportation is a scholarly journal that aims to advance knowledge in the field of electric transportation. It focuses on all modes of transportation that utilize electricity as their primary source of energy, including electric vehicles, trains, ships, and aircraft. The journal covers all stages of research, development, and testing of new technologies, systems, and devices related to electrical transportation.
The journal welcomes the use of simulation and analysis tools at the system, transport, or device level. Its primary emphasis is on the study of the electrical and electronic aspects of transportation systems. However, it also considers research on mechanical parts or subsystems of vehicles if there is a clear interaction with electrical or electronic equipment.
Please note that this journal excludes other aspects such as sociological, political, regulatory, or environmental factors from its scope.