CAREER: Understanding degradation mechanisms in sustainable energy electrochemical systems using advanced characterization approaches

燃料电池、电解槽和电池等近零排放能源系统为清洁和可再生能源的生产和储存带来了巨大的希望，但仍然存在成本高、效率不令人满意和耐用性低等挑战。这个NSF职业项目提供了一个综合性的综合研究和教育计划，重点是应用尖端显微镜方法来了解燃料电池电极的降解过程，适用于其他系统，如电池和电解槽。该项目将使用新的显微镜表征和量化方法，以弥合在理解膜电极组件(包括电催化剂、催化剂载体和电解质膜)内发生的降解机理方面的差距。通过了解导致电极退化的关键因素，该项目所产生的知识将有助于合理设计具有更大耐用性的电极。该项目的教育目标是吸引年轻的、不同的一代接触STEM和清洁能源。研究人员将利用下一代的动力，通过将该项目的研究和教育方面与使用虚拟现实工具相结合，来改善清洁能源的前景。研究人员计划开发具有启发性和激励性的“i loVR Nano”和“i loVR Clean Energy”虚拟现实模块，其中将介绍材料科学、清洁能源和显微技术等主题。研究人员还计划了一个“工程企业家-显微镜下”项目，为本科生和研究生提供创业和研究培训，为他们未来在清洁能源和其他领域的领导者做准备。这个基础工程科学研究项目将使用复杂的显微表征和量化方法来弥合在理解以下科学问题方面的知识差距：(1)在电极降解过程中，纳米和微观水平上发生了哪些(未发现的)机制/变化，这些变化如何影响性能？(2)每种降解机制的影响能否被区分并与电极中的个别组件相关联？(3)电极组件的性质及其在纳米和微米尺度上的分布如何影响降解？该项目有可能为科学做出重大贡献，为零排放电化学系统的测试和2D/3D显微镜表征建立新的方法，从而为提高性能和耐用性提供解决方案。该项目的技术目标是：1)开发和验证一种方法，直接观察实际电化学系统中的降解过程，并在纳米尺度上建立相同位置的新型微型eChem Cell(MECC-IL)中的模型；2)建立一套先进的表征方法，包括2D/3D多尺度成像和光谱，以及参数量化，以了解纳米和微观尺度上的降解机理。定义一个唯一的、全面的结构和成分参数矩阵，以与MECC-IL和非原位测试相关联；3)在导出的参数矩阵和经非原位降解测试验证的MECC-IL之间建立多变量相关性。该项目将通过相互关系和模型的融合产生关于电化学系统退化机制的新的基础知识。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Near zero-emission energy systems, such as fuel cells, electrolyzers, and batteries hold immense promise for production and storage of clean and renewable energy, but challenges such as high cost, unsatisfactory efficiency, and low durability remain. This NSF CAREER project presents a comprehensive integrated research and education program that focuses on application of cutting-edge microscopy methods to understand degradation processes in fuel cell electrodes, applicable to other systems, such as batteries and electrolyzers. The project will use novel microscopy characterization and quantification methods to close the gap in understanding degradation mechanisms that occur within the membrane electrode assembly including the electrocatalyst, the catalyst support, and the electrolyte membrane. The knowledge generated in this project will contribute towards the rational design of electrodes with greater durability through the understanding of key factors that contribute to electrode degradation. The educational objective of the project is to attract younger diverse generations to both STEM and clean energy. The investigator will harness the motivation of the next generation to improve prospects for clean energy by integrating the research and educational aspects of the project with the use of virtual reality tools. The investigator plans to develop instructive and stimulating “I loVR Nano” and “I loVR Clean Energy” virtual reality modules, where materials science, clean energy, and microscopy topics will be presented. The investigator has also planned an “Engineering Entrepreneurs—Under the Microscope” program to offer undergraduate and graduate engineering students entrepreneurship and research training to prepare them as future leaders in the clean energy and other sectors.This fundamental engineering science research project will use sophisticated microscopy characterization and quantification methods to close the knowledge gap in understanding of the following scientific questions: (1) What (undiscovered) mechanisms/changes on the nano- and micro-level occur during electrode degradation and how do these changes affect performance? (2) Can the effect of each degradation mechanism be distinguished and linked to individual components in the electrodes? (3) How do the properties of electrode components and their distribution on a nano- and micro-scale affect degradation? The project has the potential to make a significant contribution to science by establishing novel approaches for testing and 2D/3D microscopy characterization of zero-emission electrochemical systems, and hence provide solutions for improving performance and durability. The technical objectives of this project are: 1) Develop and verify a method to directly observe the degradation processes in actual and model electrochemical systems on a nanometer scale in a novel Micro EChem Cell for Identical Location (MECC-IL); 2) Establish a suite of advanced characterization approaches involving 2D/3D multi-scale imaging and spectroscopy, and parameter quantification to understand degradation mechanisms on a nano- and micro-scale. Define a unique, comprehensive matrix of structural and compositional parameters to correlate to MECC-IL and ex-situ testing; 3) Establish multi-variate correlations between the derived matrix of parameters and the MECC-IL validated with ex-situ degradation testing. The project will yield new fundamental knowledge of degradation mechanisms for electrochemical systems through convergence of correlations and modeling.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.