Pore structural characterization of fuel cell layers using integrated mercury porosimetry and computerized X-ray tomography
The pore structure of the cathode catalyst layer of proton-exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells is a major factor influencing cell performance. The nanostructure of the catalyst layer has been probed using a novel combination of mercury porosimetry with computerized X-ray tomography (CXT), even though...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
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American Chemical Society
2016
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/38858/ |
| _version_ | 1848795707383742464 |
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| author | Malik, Shoaib Smith, Linda Sharman, Joanatham Holt, Elizabeth M. Rigby, Sean P. |
| author_facet | Malik, Shoaib Smith, Linda Sharman, Joanatham Holt, Elizabeth M. Rigby, Sean P. |
| author_sort | Malik, Shoaib |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | The pore structure of the cathode catalyst layer of proton-exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells is a major factor influencing cell performance. The nanostructure of the catalyst layer has been probed using a novel combination of mercury porosimetry with computerized X-ray tomography (CXT), even though the nanopores were below the nominal CXT resolution. The method allows probing of the macroscopic spatial variability in the accessibility of the nanostructure. In particular, mercury entrapment within the catalyst layer showed a pronounced regular spatial patterning corresponding to the already higher X-ray absorbing regions of the fresh catalyst layer. The initial, greater X-ray absorption was due to a higher local concentration of carbon-supported platinum catalyst. This was due to segregation of ionomer away from these areas caused by the particular screen printing catalyst layer deposition method used, which both enhanced the accessibility of the origin regions and, concomitantly, reduced the accessibility of the destination regions. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:36:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-38858 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:36:22Z |
| publishDate | 2016 |
| publisher | American Chemical Society |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-388582020-05-04T18:16:25Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/38858/ Pore structural characterization of fuel cell layers using integrated mercury porosimetry and computerized X-ray tomography Malik, Shoaib Smith, Linda Sharman, Joanatham Holt, Elizabeth M. Rigby, Sean P. The pore structure of the cathode catalyst layer of proton-exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells is a major factor influencing cell performance. The nanostructure of the catalyst layer has been probed using a novel combination of mercury porosimetry with computerized X-ray tomography (CXT), even though the nanopores were below the nominal CXT resolution. The method allows probing of the macroscopic spatial variability in the accessibility of the nanostructure. In particular, mercury entrapment within the catalyst layer showed a pronounced regular spatial patterning corresponding to the already higher X-ray absorbing regions of the fresh catalyst layer. The initial, greater X-ray absorption was due to a higher local concentration of carbon-supported platinum catalyst. This was due to segregation of ionomer away from these areas caused by the particular screen printing catalyst layer deposition method used, which both enhanced the accessibility of the origin regions and, concomitantly, reduced the accessibility of the destination regions. American Chemical Society 2016-10-19 Article PeerReviewed Malik, Shoaib, Smith, Linda, Sharman, Joanatham, Holt, Elizabeth M. and Rigby, Sean P. (2016) Pore structural characterization of fuel cell layers using integrated mercury porosimetry and computerized X-ray tomography. Industrial and Engineering Chemical Research, 55 (41). pp. 10850-10859. ISSN 0888-5885 http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.iecr.6b01617 doi:10.1021/acs.iecr.6b01617 doi:10.1021/acs.iecr.6b01617 |
| spellingShingle | Malik, Shoaib Smith, Linda Sharman, Joanatham Holt, Elizabeth M. Rigby, Sean P. Pore structural characterization of fuel cell layers using integrated mercury porosimetry and computerized X-ray tomography |
| title | Pore structural characterization of fuel cell layers using integrated mercury porosimetry and computerized X-ray tomography |
| title_full | Pore structural characterization of fuel cell layers using integrated mercury porosimetry and computerized X-ray tomography |
| title_fullStr | Pore structural characterization of fuel cell layers using integrated mercury porosimetry and computerized X-ray tomography |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pore structural characterization of fuel cell layers using integrated mercury porosimetry and computerized X-ray tomography |
| title_short | Pore structural characterization of fuel cell layers using integrated mercury porosimetry and computerized X-ray tomography |
| title_sort | pore structural characterization of fuel cell layers using integrated mercury porosimetry and computerized x-ray tomography |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/38858/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/38858/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/38858/ |