In Situ and Operando Characterization of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

• Published in: Advanced materials (Weinheim) Vol. 31; no. 40; pp. e1901900 - n/a
• Main Authors: Meyer, Quentin, Zeng, Yachao, Zhao, Chuan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.10.2019
• Subjects: Degradation; Durability; Electrochemical analysis; electrochemical mapping; Fuel cells; Image resolution; in operando characterization; in situ characterization; Materials science; Proton exchange membrane fuel cells; Protons; Structural analysis; structural imaging; Water management; in operando characterization; electrochemical mapping; structural imaging; in situ characterization; proton exchange membrane fuel cells
• ISSN: 0935-9648; 1521-4095; 1521-4095
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.201901900

For proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) to become a mainstream energy source, significant improvements in their performance, durability, and efficiency are necessary. To improve their durability, there must be a solid understanding of how the structural and electrochemical processes are affected during operation to propose mitigation strategies. To this aim, in situ and operando characterization techniques can locally identify structural and electrochemical processes, which cannot be captured using conventional techniques. Linking these properties in the same geometric area has been challenging due to its inherent limitations, such as sample size and imaging resolution. This has created a knowledge gap in structure‐to‐electrochemical performance relationships as operation and degradation unevenly affect different areas of the cell. In the recent past, catalyst layer degradation, hot spots, and water management have been structurally and electrochemically visualized in the same geometric area, revealing new interactions. To further the research in this direction, these interconnected fields are reviewed, followed by a roadmap for in situ characterization of PEMFCs, treating structural and electrochemical processes as a unified subject. With this approach, the knowledge of the degradation of PEMFCs will be significantly improved. In situ and operando characterization of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) sheds light on complex phenomena that cannot be observed with conventional methods. The latest developments regarding in situ and operando characterization are summarized. A roadmap unifying in operando structural and electrochemical processes is proposed to promote PEMFC research in this direction.