Optical, X-Ray, and EM Methods

Daino et al. (2011) report studies of water transport and thermal profile in the through-plane direction of a PEMFC GDL. Direct optical and infrared access to both cathode and anode GDLs are provided in a typical 50-cm test section. Dynamic visualization (pixel resolution of about 0.6 J,m at 28 Hz) of liquid water transport in the gas distribution channels and gas-diffusion layers is described, and the underlying transport processes are discussed. The temperature distributions across the anode and cathode GDLs are also measured with a high-resolution infrared camera with a pixel resolution of 5 Tm at 30 Hz. 

Izzo et al. (2008) applied a high-resolution, nondestructive x-ray computed tomography (XGT) technique to image the three-dimensional microstructure of an SOFG composed of a solid yttria-stabilized zirconia electrolyte and a porous nickel YSZ anode. The x-ray microscope used the 8-keV Gu K line from a 

EXPERIMENTAL METHODS FOR INVESTIGATING FUEL CELL STACKS 

Experiments to visualize quantitatively the water distribution in a PEMFC by means of an x-ray imaging technique were conducted by Lee et al. (2008). The x-ray images of PEMFC components with and without water were clearly distinguished. Reference to the x-ray images visualized enabled quantitative evaluation of the water distribution in the region between the separator and the gas-diffusion layer. The meniscus of water in the channels of the PEMSFC was also clearly observed. 

Among the techniques utilized for investigating water management in PEMFCs, synchrotron radiation x-ray diffraction has been demonstrated to be a snit-able tool to observe the real-time water dynamics in the polymeric membranes. 

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