Advanced imaging for clean electrochemical energy conversion

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Mitigating anthropogenic climate change and achieving geopolitical energy equality hinge on efficiently storing and generating clean power and slowing or reverting atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels. In order to eliminate energy waste, we must store energy when it can be harnessed or produced cheaply and distribute the energy efficiently and cleanly when it is needed. To reduce or revert atmospheric CO2 levels, we must both use renewable energy sources as well as convert CO2 emissions into useful chemical products that simultaneously sequester the CO2. Through devices such as fuel cells and electrolyzers, electrochemical energy conversion is vital for efficiently managing carbon emissions and using and distributing the world's energy resources. However, fuel cells and electrolyzers are faced with ineffective management of heat and mass transport at the microscale and nanoscale, and these challents provide barriers to next generation designs that are so vitally needed to address global energy and climate challenges. Microscale and nanoscale porous materials provide a multitude of advantages for heat and mass transfer purposes, such as high surface areas, thermal storage, and multiphase transport; however, in fuel cells and electrolzyers, porous materials typically serve multiple, simultaneous, and juxtaposed roles. In addition to these opposing transport mechanisms, the devices are opaque with transport behaviours that are highly dynamic and sensitive to operating conditions dynamics that cannot be visualized through conventional means. The proposed research program aims to advance modelling, testing, and in operando imaging of fuel cell and electrolyzer technologies that will advance both fuel cells and electrolyzers for on-demand fuel cell power and atmospheric CO2 reduction.