CAMP Professors Carryout Fuel Cell Research continued from page1
Professor Dipankar Roy
Professor Roy's
group is characterizing advanced materials for fuel cells using
electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). EIS can be combined
with various D.C. electrochemical techniques for quantitative investigation
of novel electrode materials for proton exchange membrane and solid
oxide fuel cells (PEMFCs and SOFCs, respectively). A wide range
of studies based on these combined electrochemical methods is currently
underway in Professor Roy's laboratory at Clarkson University.
For PEMFCs,
cathode impedance is an important factor, because the oxygen reaction
generally is rate limiting in such cells. Anode performance (especially
its tolerance against CO poisoning) can also be studied using EIS
in the anode half-cell configuration. EIS simultaneously records
the signature time constants of cell operation (mass transport/
reaction at the anode, proton conduction through the membrane, charge
transfer at three-phase boundaries of the cathode, and mass transport
of products). Furthermore, at high current densities, the ohmic
loss in PEMFCs often becomes an important governing factor for cell
performance. This is caused by electrolyte resistance as well as
by other cell components, and EIS is an effective probe of these
different types of ohmic losses. Professor Roy's research interest
in PEMFCs focuses primarily on EIS characterization of cathode reactions,
along with selected studies of anode properties and ohmic effects.
For SOFCs, EIS
can identify both the sources of polarization loss and the effects
of material composition on electrode performance. EIS is sensitive
to electrical homogeneity of electrode and electrolyte microstructures,
and hence can be used as a simple testing method in the material
design stage, prior to incorporation of new materials in SOFCs.
Also EIS is a standard method for studying cathode reactions in
SOFCs. Open circuit voltages of SOFCs sometimes depend on the history
of electrode pretreatment and activation. EIS measurements performed
at different intervals, before and after polarization, provide various
mechanistic details of this effect. In addition, EIS is a relatively
straightforward method for identifying activation and diffusion
controlled processes. Because activated catalytic reactions are
strongly governed by the chemical makeup of reaction sites, identification
of the rate limiting processes through EIS facilitates the task
of designing electrode and electrolyte materials for SOFCs. Professor
Roy's research spans over these diverse utilities of EIS in the
investigation and development of novel materials for SOFCs. More
information about Professor Roy's research can be found at: http://www.clarkson.edu/~samoy/
Professor Dan Goia
For more than five years, Professor Goia has enjoyed continuous support from Umicore (Hanau, Germany), a world leader in the development and manufacturing of precious metal catalysts, in developing precipitation processes to manufacture high performance catalysts for PEM fuel cells and other applications. To date, the work has resulted in several technologies for the preparation of Pt and Pt alloy nanoparticles supported on metallic and carbonaceous conductive supports, which have been captured in four worldwide patents. More recently, the research conducted by Professor Goia's group has been included in a collaborative effort between Umicore and GM (Rochester, NY).
Professors Ian Suni and Don Rasmussen
Professors Ian Suni and Don Rasmussen are working with NanoDynamics, Inc. to develop improved methods for coating solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) interconnects. SOFCs are a clean and efficient energy source that can burn a variety of fuels, including hydrogen and several different hydrocarbons. To obtain a higher voltage output, interconnects connect a series of individual cells into a solid oxide fuel cell stack. Since SOFCs operate at an elevated temperature, interconnect coatings may be needed to prevent unwanted reaction and transport.
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