Inductive loops in impedance spectra of PEM water electrolyzers

verfasst von

Debora Brinker, Niklas Hensle, Jerónimo Horstmann de la Viña, Irene Franzetti, Lena V. Bühre, Umesh Anirudh Andaluri, Charlotte Menke, Tom Smolinka, André Weber

Abstract

Inductive loops at low frequencies in impedance spectra of proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis cells remain largely unexplored, yet they hold potential for performance enhancement due to their positive impact on the overall cell resistance. This study investigates inductive loops at low frequencies by impedance spectroscopy and subsequent Distribution of Relaxation Times (DRT) analysis. The positive impact of the inductive loops is verified by voltage current scan measurements. Variations of operational and structural parameters, like membrane and catalyst layer properties and impregnated porous transport layers are performed to understand the origin of the inductive feature and its interplay with mass transport related processes. Our findings reveal a significant impact of current density and voltage, temperature and membrane thickness on the inductive loop. Measurements via reference electrodes show a stronger correlation to the anode. Mass transport losses and the inductive loops are occurring in similar frequency ranges. Such overlapping of both effects with apparently positive and negative resistances can result in compensation in the spectra. The size of the inductive loops, which might even exceed the capacitive polarization resistance, and their dependence on the membrane thickness indicate that processes in the membrane are responsible for the observed behavior.

Organisationseinheit(en)

Fachgebiet Elektrische Energiespeichersysteme

Externe Organisation(en)

Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)
Fraunhofer-Institut für Solare Energiesysteme (ISE)

Typ

Artikel

Journal

Journal of power sources

Band

622

Anzahl der Seiten

14

ISSN

0378-7753

Publikationsdatum

09.09.2024

Publikationsstatus

Elektronisch veröffentlicht (E-Pub)

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Erneuerbare Energien, Nachhaltigkeit und Umwelt, Energieanlagenbau und Kraftwerkstechnik, Physikalische und Theoretische Chemie, Elektrotechnik und Elektronik

Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung

SDG 7 – Erschwingliche und saubere Energie

Elektronische Version(en)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2024.235375 (Zugang: Offen)