In-situ synchrotron X-ray radiography on high temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cells

• Published in: Electrochemistry communications Vol. 12; no. 10; pp. 1436 - 1438
• Main Authors: Maier, Wiebke, Arlt, Tobias, Wannek, Christoph, Manke, Ingo, Riesemeier, Heinrich, Krüger, Philipp, Scholta, Joachim, Lehnert, Werner, Banhart, John, Stolten, Detlef
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 01.10.2010; Amsterdam Elsevier; New York, NY
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Fuel cells; HT-PEFC; Membrane electrode assembly (MEA); Phosphoric acid; Synchrotron X-ray radiography; Membrane electrode assembly (MEA); Phosphoric acid; Synchrotron X-ray radiography; HT-PEFC; Polybenzimidazole; Membrane electrode assembly; In situ; X ray radiography; Temperature effect; Polymer solid electrolyte; Operating conditions; Inorganic acids; Proton exchange membrane fuel cells
• ISSN: 1388-2481; 1873-1902
• DOI: 10.1016/j.elecom.2010.08.002

In contrast to classical low temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cells (LT-PEFCs), the membrane conductivity in high temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cells (HT-PEFCs) (operating temperature ~ 160 °C) is based on proton transport within phosphorus-oxygen acids at different levels of hydration, orthophosphoric acid (H 3PO 4) being the simplest example. We present for the first time in-situ synchrotron X-ray radiography measurements applied to a HT-PEFC to gain insight into the local composition of the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) under dynamic operating conditions. Transmission changes during the radiographic measurements exhibit a clear influence of the formation of product water on the membrane composition.