The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category 'Functional'. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category 'Analytics'. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category 'Advertisement'. This cookie is set to enable shopping cart details on the site and to pass the data to our learning management system. This cookie is set to transfer purchase details to our learning management system. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Strategies for Reducing Platinum Waste in Fuel Cells, Advanced Light Source highlight.Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Khedekar, K., et al., Probing Heterogeneous Degradation of Catalyst in PEM Fuel Cells under Realistic Automotive Conditions with Multi-Modal Techniques. This research used resources at the Advanced Light Source, a DOE Office of Science user facility located at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The research was funded by Bosch Research. ContactД«osch Research and Technology Center North Zenyuk The results from this study can aid in the development of immediate system-level strategies to increase durability and reduce costs until alternate, lower-cost catalyst materials are found for this technology. PEFC vehicles are an excellent emission-free alternative to fossil-fuel vehicles. The study concluded that the addition of counter-flow channels could help reduce inlet/outlet variability, and that higher-temperature operation could help maintain lower relative humidity.

Aging was also accelerated in the spaces between the maze-like channels that guide hydrogen gas through the catalyst layer, an effect that disappeared for narrower flow-field dimensions. The results revealed that platinum ages faster near flow-field outlets, as well as in nitrogen environments and in higher humidity. They also used X-ray computed tomography to image the catalyst layers after aging.

At the Advanced Light SourceВ (ALS), a Department of Energy (DOE) user facility, the scientists used X-ray diffraction to map the sizes of the aged platinum nanoparticles (larger particles indicate greater degradation). Their analysis of the samples involved a variety of methods, including scanning electron microscopy and several X-ray spectroscopy techniques. They performed tests under humid and dry conditions and in air and nitrogen environments. SummaryДЄ team led by the University of California, Irvine and Bosch studied commercially available catalyst-coated membranes that were subjected to accelerated stress testing. The results led to simple, effective strategies to reduce the waste of precious catalyst material. In this study, scientists studied patterns in the deterioration of platinum catalyst in PEFCs. For light-duty vehicles, precious-metal catalysts such as platinum can account for about a third of the cost of PEFCs. Lower cost and greater durability would encourage their wider use. Polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) are an attractive option for use in automobiles because they are compact and can quickly ramp up power output as needed. These causes include the humidity and gas environment (air vs nitrogen) inside the fuel cells and the geometry of the fuel cell flow channels. To improve fuel cell durability and reduce waste, this research studied the causes of uneven platinum degradation. However, platinum degrades unevenly in fuel cells, resulting in still-usable platinum being discarded when вЂњworn outвЂќ fuel cells are replaced. Platinum is a key catalystВ in this process. Fuel cells generate electricity from hydrogen, a вЂњcleanвЂќ fuel that produces only water when burned.

Uci study center