https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1131&context=usdoepub

A review of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells: Technology, applications,and needs on fundamental research

Since its first isolation in 2004, graphene has become one of the hottest topics in the field of materials science, and its highly appealing properties have led to a plethora of scientific papers. Among the many affected areas of materials science, this 'graphene fever' has influenced particularly the world of electrochemical energy-storage devices. Despite widespread enthusiasm, it is not yet clear whether graphene could really lead to progress in the field. Here we discuss the most recent applications of graphene - both as an active material and as an inactive component - from lithium-ion batteries and electrochemical capacitors to emerging technologies such as metal-air and magnesium-ion batteries. By critically analysing state-of-the-art technologies, we aim to address the benefits and issues of graphene-based materials, as well as outline the most promising results and applications so far.

The role of graphene for electrochemical energy storage

Review on recent progress of nanostructured anode materials for Li-ion batteries

In this comprehensive review, recent progress and developments on perfluorinated sulfonic-acid (PFSA) membranes have been summarized on many key topics. Although quite well investigated for decades, PFSA ionomers’ complex behavior, along with their key role in many emerging technologies, have presented significant scientific challenges but also helped create a unique cross-disciplinary research field to overcome such challenges. Research and progress on PFSAs, especially when considered with their applications, are at the forefront of bridging electrochemistry and polymer (physics), which have also opened up development of state-of-the-art in situ characterization techniques as well as multiphysics computation models. Topics reviewed stem from correlating the various physical (e.g., mechanical) and transport properties with morphology and structure across time and length scales. In addition, topics of recent interest such as structure/transport correlations and modeling, composite PFSA membranes, degradat...

New Insights into Perfluorinated Sulfonic-Acid Ionomers

Miniaturized energy storage is essential for the continuous development and further miniaturization of electronic devices. Electrochemical capacitors (ECs), also called supercapacitors, are energy storage devices with a high power density, fast charge and discharge rates, and long service life. Small-scale supercapacitors, or micro-supercapacitors, can be integrated with microelectronic devices to work as stand-alone power sources or as efficient energy storage units complementing batteries and energy harvesters, leading to wider use of these devices in many industries. In recent years, the research in this field has rapidly advanced and micro-supercapacitors with improved storage capacity and power density have been developed. The important factors affecting the performance of micro-supercapacitors are the intrinsic properties of electrode materials and electrolyte, architectural design of the device and the fabrication methods. This paper reviews the recent advances in fabrication of materials and devices and provides a critical analysis of reported performances of micro-supercapacitors.

Capacitive energy storage in micro-scale devices: recent advances in design and fabrication of micro-supercapacitors

Fuel cell power systems offer a unique combination of high efficiency, wide size range, modularity, and compatibility with cogeneration. The development of complete energy systems that realize the benefits offered by fuel cell technology requires a basic understanding of fuel cell system components as well as the associated power electronics for different applications. This paper explains the basic characteristics of a fuel cell system, describes the different types of fuel cells and their current state of development, and discusses the potential application of these systems to transportation and stationary power. Particular emphasis is given to the electrical characteristics of the fuel cell, which is a relatively stiff power source. Power electronic systems are essential for making the fuel cell electrical output compatible with most loads. Options for dc–dc and dc–ac power conversion circuits are given with a discussion of the distinct features of each circuit that can be used for system planning purposes. The interaction between a fuel cell and a single-phase ac inverter load is highlighted because of the widespread applicability of this particular combination.

Fuel Cell Power Systems and Applications

Long-term durability of the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells is one of the major technological barriers to the commercialization of fuel cell vehicles. The cracks in the electrode layers of the MEA, referred to as mud-cracks, are potential contributors to the failure in the PEM. To investigate how these mud-cracks affect the mechanical durability of the MEA, pressure-loaded blister tests are performed at 90°C to determine the biaxial fatigue strength of Gore-Primea® series 57 MEA. In these volume-controlled tests, leaking rate is determined as a function of fatigue cycles. The failure is defined to occur when the leaking rate exceeds a specified threshold. Postmortem characterization using bubble point testing and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) was conducted to provide visual documentation of leaking failure sites. The analysis of the experimental leaking data indicates that the MEA has much shorter lifetimes at the same nominal stress levels than membrane samples without the electrode layers. FESEM photomicrographs of leaking locations identified via the bubble point testing show cracks in the membrane that are concentrated within the mud-cracks of the electrode layer. These two pieces of information indicate that the mud-cracks within the electrode layers contribute to the leaking failures of the MEA assembly. For the fuel cell industry, this study suggests there is an opportunity to reduce the likelihood of membrane pinhole failures by reducing the size and occurrence of the mud-cracks formed during the MEA processing or by increasing the fatigue resistance (including the notch sensitivity) of the membrane material within the MEA.

The Effect of Mechanical Fatigue on the Lifetimes of Membrane Electrode Assemblies

The use of pressurized blister specimens to characterize the biaxial strength and durability of proton exchange membranes (PEMs) is proposed, simulating the biaxial stress states that are induced within constrained membranes of operating PEM fuel cells. PEM fuel cell stacks consist of layered structures containing the catalyzed PEMs that are surrounded by gas diffusion media and clamped between bipolar plates. The surfaces of the bipolar plates are typically grooved with flow channels to facilitate distribution of the reactant gases and water by-product. The channels are often on the order of a few millimeters across, leaving the sandwiched layers tightly constrained by the remaining lands of the bipolar plates, preventing in-plane strains. The hydrophilic PEMs expand and contract significantly as the internal humidity, and to a lesser extent, temperature varies during fuel cell operation. These dimensional changes induce a significant biaxial stress state within the confined membranes that are believed to contribute to pinhole formation and membrane failure. Pressurized blister tests offer a number of advantages for evaluating the biaxial strength to bursting or to detectable leaking. Results are presented for samples of three commercial membranes that were tested at 80°C and subjected to a pressure that was ramped to burst. The bursting pressures exhibit significant time dependence that is consistent with failure of viscoelastic materials. Rupture stresses, estimated with the classic Hencky’s solution for pressurized membranes in conjunction with a quasielastic estimation, are shown to be quite consistent for a range of blister diameters tested. The technique shows considerable promise not only for measuring biaxial burst strength but also for measuring constitutive properties, creep to rupture, and cyclic fatigue damage. Because the tests are easily amenable to leak detection, pressurized blister tests offer the potential for characterizing localized damage events that would not be detectable in more commonly used uniaxial strength tests. As such, this specimen configuration is expected to become a useful tool in characterizing mechanical integrity of proton exchange membranes.

Michael W. Ellis

Papers

Fuel Cell Power Systems and Applications

The Effect of Mechanical Fatigue on the Lifetimes of Membrane Electrode Assemblies

On the Use of Pressure-Loaded Blister Tests to Characterize the Strength and Durability of Proton Exchange Membranes

Characterizing the fracture resistance of proton exchange membranes

Constructal flow distributor as a bipolar plate for proton exchange membrane fuel cells