One-step to prepare high-performance gas diffusion layer (GDL) with three different functional layers for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs)

Gas diffusion layer (GDL) is one of the most important components of fuel cells. In order to improve the fuel cell performance, GDL has developed from single layer to dual layers, and then to multiple layers. However, dual or multi layers in GDL are usually prepared by layer-by-layer methods, which cost too much time, energy, and resources. In this work, we successfully developed a facile one-step method to prepare a GDL with three functional layers by utilizing the different sedimentation rates and filtration rates of short carbon fiber (CF) and carbon nanotube (CNT). The treatment temperature for this GDL is much lower than that of traditional method. The thickness of the GDL can be effectively controlled from as thin as 50 μm to more than 200 μm by simply adjusting the content of CF. The GDL with high flexibility is suitable to develop high performance flexible electronics. The fuel cell with the GDL has the maximum power density 1021 mW cm^?2, which shows 19% improvement comparing to the conventional one. Therefore, this work breaks the traditional concept that GDL for fuel cells only can be prepared by very complex and high-cost procedure.     

The impact of the thermal treatment during ink preparation on the ionomer-supported catalyst interactions in the catalyst layers

Catalyst slurries (inks) were prepared with and without thermal treatment to determine the support/ionomer structures and interactions in the catalyst layer (CL) which impact on membrane electrode performance and durability. The thermal treatment of the ink has a nominal effect on the ionomer/support structure in which the carbon support is non-graphitised. The agglomerate/aggregate structures have a high degree of support/ionomer interface and sufficient macroporosity for water movement in the CL. This improves the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) performance, but also accelerates electrochemical carbon degradation. Thermal treatment of graphitised support-containing inks resulted in increased performance facilitated by a larger support/ionomer interface. Without thermal treatment, the more hydrophobic support would form aggregate structures in which water contact was restricted, limiting proton transfer, isolating catalyst, decreasing performance. The water limited access, would however, prolong stability during accelerates carbon degradation. The electrochemical properties were studied using full and half MEA cells.     

The origin of interfacial delamination in Au/ceramic cofired LTCC structure

The interfacial delamination of electrode/ceramic multilayer structure will seriously damage the reliability of low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) module in practical applications. In this work, three kinds of glasses employed in Au electrode are designed and prepared to study the abnormal expansion and delamination process in the Au/ceramic LTCC multilayer structure. The interfacial delamination in the co-fired structure is found to be attributed to the abnormal expansion of glass in respect to Au electrode at high temperature, which is originated from the enlarged closed pores during the co-firing process. This conclusion is further confirmed by co-firing the sample in a low-pressure condition. The mechanism and elimination of interfacial delamination here provides a feasible solution for the design of novel glasses in Au electrode for LTCC applications.     

High ultraviolet transparent conducting electrodes formed using tantalum oxide/Ag multilayer

We investigated the optical and electrical properties of Ta₂O₅/Ag/Ta₂O₅ films as functions of the thicknesses of the Ta₂O₅ and Ag layers. It was found that with an increase in the thicknesses of the Ta₂O₅ and Ag layers from 10 to 40 nm and from 12 to 24 nm, respectively, the sheet resistance, carrier concentration, electron mobility, and resistivity of the Ta₂O₅/Ag/Ta₂O₅ film varied from 2.02 to 8.95 Ω/sq, 5.74 × 10²¹ to 2.92 × 10²² cm^–3, from 13.21 to 24.07 cm²/V·s, and from 8.89 × 10^-6 to 8.24 × 10^-5 Ω cm, respectively. The average transmittance (T_av) of the multilayer samples ranged from 57.18% to 93.99%, and it depended on the Ta₂O₅ and Ag layer thicknesses. The highest T_av of 93.99% was observed for the film with 35 nm thick Ta₂O₅ and 18 nm thick Ag layers, and the peak Haacke's figure of merit (157.04 × 10^–3 Ω^–1) was obtained for 20 nm thick Ta₂O₅ and 21 nm thick Ag layers. Ta₂O₅ (100 nm) and Ta₂O₅/Ag/Ta₂O₅ (20 nm/21 nm/20 nm) samples had optical bandgaps of 4.70 and 4.45 eV, respectively. Film Wizard simulations were conducted to understand the dependence of the transmittance of the multilayer on the thicknesses of the Ta₂O₅ and Ag layers, and phasor analyses were performed to determine how the transmittance of the Ta₂O₅/Ag/Ta₂O₅ (20 nm/21 nm/20 nm) film depended on the Ta₂O₅ layer's thickness.     

Investigation of layered Ni0.8Co0.15Al0.05LiO2 in electrode for low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells

A symmetrical cell composed of Ce_0.9Gd_0.1O_2?δ electrolyte is constructed with 0.5 mm thickness and Ni_0.8Co_0.15Al_0.05LiO₂ (NCAL)-foam Ni composite electrodes. Electrochemical performance of the cell and electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) are measured using the three-electrode method. The maximum power densities of the cell are 93.6 and 159.7 mW cm^?2 at 500 and 550 °C, respectively. The polarization resistances of the cathode are 0.393 and 0.729 Ω cm^?2 at 550 and 500 °C, indicating that NCAL has good ORR activity. HT-XRD results for NCAL do not show phase transitions or any additional new phases at elevated temperatures, indicating that NCAL has a stable phase structure. The surface characteristics of the NCAL powders are studied by XPS and FTIR. The results reveal that Li₂CO₃ and the cation-disordered “NiO-like” phase are formed on the surface of the layered NCAL structure due to prolonged exposure to air and contain a large number of oxygen vacancies. The cation-disordered “NiO-like” phase and Li₂CO₃ composite in the melt and partial melt states in the high temperature region are considered to possess very high ionic conductivity and lower activation energy for oxygen reduction reactions.     

Surface characteristics and electrolysis efficiency of a Palladium-Nickel electrode

In view to finding a better electrode for water electrolysis-the hydrogen and oxygen evolution efficiencies of a Pd-80 at% Ni electrode along with its surface oxidation-reduction characteristics were investigated in alkaline medium using cyclic voltammetry. On cycling the electrode in between the potential range of ?1.0 to +0.65 V, two oxidation and two reduction transformations were observed. The origins of the transformations were found out. Most of the transformation peak potentials were found to be different than that of Pd and Ni electrodes. The generation of (PdNi)(III) species over the electrode surface identified to be the crucial for the oxygen evolution and continuous cycling up to 100 min succeeded to obtain its saturated layer. Tafel plots for both the hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions (HER and OER) showed two regions. The kinetic parameters for the HER and OER, i.e., exchange current density at zero overpotential (i_o) and slope (b) values for both the low and high overpotential (η) regions were found out. For the HER, the i_o and b values are found to be 6.17 × 10^?2 and 4.36 mA/cm² and 137.0 and 343.9 mV/dec, respectively. For the OER, the values are 2.83 × 10^?3 and 2.35 mA/cm² and 72.8 and 215.1 mV/dec, respectively. On comparing these kinetic values with that available for Pd, Ni and Pd-50 at% Ni, it is realized that the investigated Pd-80 at% Ni electrode showed better electrolysis efficiencies than that of its component materials and Pd-50 at% Ni electrode.     

基于多层感知器的气液两相流流型识别方法

通过对电阻层析成像数据采集原理和深度学习网络的研究,提出了一种基于阵列电阻值和多层感知器深度学习网络相结合的流型识别方法。利用电阻层析成像系统中的16个电极传感器来获取流型样本数据,并构建出流型识别数据库,然后对多层感知器深度学习网络进行训练,获得可以识别不同流型的网络。实验结果表明,采用阵列电阻值结合多层感知器网络对流型进行学习和识别的方法,流型识别准确率可以达到95%,解决了流型图像生成过程与数据特征预选过程中流型特征损失的问题,流型识别性能得到了提高。     

铁氰化铜/Nafion/g-C_3N_4复合修饰电极的制备及电催化检测水合肼

利用铁氰化钾和硝酸铜为原料沉淀法制备铁氰化铜(copper hexacyanoferrate,CuHCF),三聚氰胺高温热解和超声剥离法合成类石墨相氮化碳(g-C_3N_4)纳米片。将所制备的CuHCF和g-C_3N_4超声分散到含Nafion的乙醇溶液中,得到了CuHCF/Nafion/g-C_3N_4纳米复合物。利用扫描电子显微镜、X射线衍射仪和比表面积检测仪对所制备的样品进行结构表征。采用滴涂法将该纳米复合物修饰到玻碳电极表面,得到CuHCF/Nafion/g-C_3N_4/GCE。研究发现:该修饰电极对水合肼具有良好的电催化氧化作用。在优化实验条件下,当水合肼的浓度介于10~1 100μmol/L时,其催化氧化峰电流与浓度具有良好的线性关系,水合肼检测限低至1μmol/L。该传感器具有良好的选择性、重复性和稳定性。     

高压直流接地极对埋地管道的电流干扰及人身安全距离

高压直流输电系统的直流接地极在运行初期或发生故障和检修时,会产生瞬间大电流,给附近埋地油气管道设施及操作人员带来极大的安全隐患。为了保障埋地管道附近人员的安全,对高压直流接地极对埋地管道的电流干扰及人身安全距离(以下简称安全距离)进行了研究。首先利用数值模拟技术建立了埋地管道受电磁干扰的模型,进而利用该模型计算了不同土壤电阻率、管线长度、管道防腐层、接地极入地电流、管道尺寸等情况下,高压直流接地极对埋地管道杂散电流干扰的安全距离,并分析了上述条件对高压直流接地极干扰程度的影响规律。研究结果表明:①管线长度对高压直流接地极干扰程度的影响较大,管线越长,安全距离越大,但当管线长度达到或超过600 km时,安全距离则基本不变;②管线涂层对高压直流接地极干扰程度的影响较大,随着涂层面电阻率的增加,安全距离逐渐增大;③对于多层土壤结构,可将最大的单层电阻率作为整体电阻率,其计算得到的安全距离最大,评价结果也更为保守。结论认为,利用计算结果得到的4类长度管线的安全距离图谱,可供高压直流接地极及管线设计时参考,并且可以作为拟建高压直流接地极或埋地管线安全距离选取的依据。