Lettenmeier, Philipp and Kolb, Svenja and Sata, Noriko and Fallisch, Arne and Zielke, Lukas and Thiele, Simon and Gago, Aldo Saul and Friedrich, K.-Andreas (2017) Comprehensive investigation of novel pore-graded gas diffusion layers for high-performance and costeffective proton exchange membrane electrolyzers. Energy and Environmental Science. Royal Chemical Society. doi: 10.1039/c7ee01240c. ISSN 1754-5692.
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Abstract
Hydrogen produced by water electrolysis is a promising storage medium for renewable energy. Reducing the capital cost of proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers without losing efficiency is one of its most pressing challenges. Gas diffusion layers (GDL), such as felts, foams, meshes and sintered plates, are key stack components, but these are either inefficient or expensive. This study presents a new type of GDL produced via vacuum plasma spraying (VPS), which offers a large potential for cost reduction. With this technology, it is possible to introduce a gradient in the pore-size distribution along the thickness of the GDL by varying the plasma parameters and titanium powder particle sizes. This feature was confirmed by cross-section scanning electron microscopy (SEM). X-ray computed tomography (CT) and mercury intrusion porosimetry allowed determining the porosity, pore radii distribution, and pore entry distribution. Pore radii of ca. 10 mm could be achieved in the layers of the GDL close to the bipolar plate, while those in contact with the electrodes were in the range of 5 mm. The thermally sprayed Ti-GDLs allowed achieving PEM electrolyzer performances comparable to those of the state-of-the-art sintered plates and far superior than those of meshes. Moreover, a numerical model showed that the reduced capillary pressure and tortuosity eliminates mass transport limitations at 2 A cm-2. The results presented herein demonstrate a promising solution to reduce the cost of one of the most expensive components of the stack.
Item URL in elib: | https://elib.dlr.de/116361/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Document Type: | Article | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Title: | Comprehensive investigation of novel pore-graded gas diffusion layers for high-performance and costeffective proton exchange membrane electrolyzers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Authors: |
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Date: | 24 July 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Journal or Publication Title: | Energy and Environmental Science | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Refereed publication: | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Open Access: | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gold Open Access: | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In SCOPUS: | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In ISI Web of Science: | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DOI: | 10.1039/c7ee01240c | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Publisher: | Royal Chemical Society | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ISSN: | 1754-5692 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Status: | Published | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Keywords: | degradation, PEM-electrolyzer, PEM-electrolysis system | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
HGF - Research field: | Energy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
HGF - Program: | Storage and Cross-linked Infrastructures | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
HGF - Program Themes: | Electrolysis and Hydrogen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DLR - Research area: | Energy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DLR - Program: | E SP - Energy Storage | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DLR - Research theme (Project): | E - Elektrochemical Processes (Electrolysis) (old) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Location: | Stuttgart | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Institutes and Institutions: | Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics > Electrochemical Energy Technology | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deposited By: | Stiber, Svenja | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deposited On: | 15 Dec 2017 08:53 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Last Modified: | 08 Nov 2023 15:07 |
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