Atomic-resolution spectroscopic imaging of ensembles of nanocatalyst particles across the life of a fuel cell

Revealing the Nanostructure of Mesoporous Fuel Cell Catalyst Supports for Durable, High-Power Performance

Achieving high power performance and durability with low Pt loadings are critical challenges for proton exchange membrane fuel cells. PtCo catalysts developed on new carbon black supports show promise by simultaneously providing good oxygen reduction kinetics and local oxygen transport. We investigate the role of nanoscale morphology in the performance of these catalysts supported on accessible (HSC-e and HSC-f) and conventional (Ketjen Black) porous carbons using 3D electron tomography, nitrogen sorption, and electrochemical performance measurements. We find that the accessible porous carbons…

Apparatus for Operando X-ray Diffraction of Fuel Electrodes in High Temperature Solid State Electrochemical Cells

Characterizing electrochemical energy conversion devices during operation is an important strategy for correlating device performance with the properties of cell materials under real operating conditions. While operando characterization has been used extensively for low temperature electrochemical cells, these techniques remain challenging for solid oxide electrochemical cells due to the high temperatures and reactive gas atmospheres these cells require. Operando X-ray diffraction measurements of solid oxide electrochemical cells could detect changes in the crystal structure of the cell materi…

Micro solid oxide fuel cells: a new generation of micro-power sources for portable applications

Portable electronic devices are already an indispensable part of our daily life; and their increasing number and demand for higher performance is becoming a challenge for the research community. In particular, a major concern is the way to efficiently power these energy-demanding devices, assuring long grid independency with high efficiency, sustainability and cheap production. In this context, technologies beyond Li-ion are receiving increasing attention, among which the development of micro solid oxide fuel cells (μSOFC) stands out. In particular, μSOFC provides a high energy density, high e…

用于耐事故燃料包壳的空位在FeCrAl合金成分空间中的扩散

Vacancy Diffusion Across FeCrAl Alloy Composition Space for Accident-Tolerant Fuel Cladding

研究FeCrAl合金中用于耐事故燃料包壳的空位扩散，用物种分辨的KMC模型结合线性替代模型，通过采样不同成分映射局部化学环境对空位跳跃及扩散率的影响，发现增加Cr含量降低扩散率，富Cr合金空位迁移受抑制。