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On the Preparation and Testing of Fuel Cell Catalysts Using the Thin Film Rotating Disk Electrode Method
Published on: March 16, 2018
Quantitative visualization of a gas diffusion layer in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell using synchrotron X-ray
1Center for Biofluid and Biomimic Research, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, San 31, Hyoja Dong, Namgu, Pohang, Republic of Korea.
Journal of Synchrotron Radiation
|February 16, 2013
Summary
This study visualizes polymer electrolyte fuel cell gas diffusion layers using X-ray micro-CT. Freeze-thaw cycles cause irreversible porosity decrease and structural defects in the GDL.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Imaging Techniques
Background:
- Polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) are crucial for clean energy.
- The gas diffusion layer (GDL) is a critical component affecting PEFC performance.
- Understanding GDL structural integrity under operational stress is vital.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively visualize the GDL structure in PEFCs.
- To investigate the impact of freeze-and-thaw cycles on GDL porosity.
- To compare adaptive thresholding with Otsu's method for 3D reconstruction.
Main Methods:
- Synchrotron X-ray micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) for 3D visualization.
- Adaptive thresholding method for image segmentation, compared to Otsu's method.
- Experimental simulation of freeze-and-thaw cycles using a CRYO system and illumination.
Main Results:
- Structural defects significantly influence GDL porosity.
- Cyclic variations in GDL porosity were observed during freeze-and-thaw cycles.
- Repetitive cycling led to an irreversible decrease in heterogeneous porosity.
Conclusions:
- The adaptive threshold method provides accurate GDL visualization.
- Freeze-and-thaw cycles induce detrimental, irreversible changes in GDL structure.
- GDL degradation under cyclic stress impacts fuel cell durability.
