Adaptation of a PEMFC Reference Electrode to PEMWE

Possibilities and Limitations

authored by
Lena V. Bühre, Alexander J. McLeod, Patrick Trinke, Boris Bensmann, Mareike Benecke, Omar E. Herrera, Walter Mérida, Richard Hanke-Rauschenbach
Abstract

This work presents a platinum wire micro-reference electrode suitable for recording in-operando individual electrochemical impedance spectra of both the anode and the cathode in a proton exchange membrane water electrolyzer. The setup enables the protonic membrane potential to be accessed outside the active area. The reference electrode allows for the analysis of kinetic parameters for anode and cathode reactions separately. However, the exact location of the measured membrane potential is unknown due to a potentially asymmetric potential distribution, which makes the calculation of exact kinetic parameters non-trivial. Qualitative analyses of the potential distribution behavior over temperature, cell compression, and current density are shown.

Organisation(s)
Institute of Electric Power Systems
Section Electrical Energy Storage Systems
External Organisation(s)
University of British Columbia
Type
Article
Journal
Journal of the Electrochemical Society
Volume
170
No. of pages
12
ISSN
0013-4651
Publication date
30.09.2023
Publication status
Published
Peer reviewed
Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment, Condensed Matter Physics, Surfaces, Coatings and Films, Electrochemistry, Materials Chemistry
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
Electronic version(s)
https://doi.org/10.1149/1945-7111/acfac2 (Access: Open)