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

接近零排放的能源系统，如燃料电池、电解槽和电池，为清洁和可再生能源的生产和储存带来了巨大的希望，但诸如高成本、令人不满意的效率和低耐久性等挑战仍然存在。NSF CAREER项目提出了一个全面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。该项目将使用新颖的显微镜表征和定量方法来缩小对膜电极组件（包括电催化剂、催化剂载体和电解质膜）降解机制的理解差距。通过了解导致电极降解的关键因素，本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世代学习STEM和清洁能源。研究人员将利用下一代的动力，通过将项目的研究和教育方面与虚拟现实工具的使用相结合，来改善清洁能源的前景。研究人员计划开发具有启发性和启发性的“我爱vr纳米”和“我爱vr清洁能源”虚拟现实模块，其中将展示材料科学，清洁能源和显微镜主题。研究人员还计划了一个“显微镜下的工程企业家”项目，为工程专业的本科生和研究生提供创业和研究培训，使他们成为清洁能源和其他领域的未来领导者。这个基础工程科学研究项目将使用复杂的显微镜表征和定量方法来缩小理解以下科学问题的知识差距：(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，以及这些变化如何影响性能？(2)能否区分每种降解机制的效果，并将其与电极中的单个成分联系起来？(3)电极成分的性质及其在纳米和微观尺度上的分布如何影响降解？该项目有可能通过建立零排放电化学系统的测试和2D/3D显微镜表征的新方法，为科学做出重大贡献，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)开发和验证一种在新型相同位置微化学电池（MECC-IL）中直接观察实际和模型电化学系统中纳米尺度降解过程的方法；2)建立一套先进的表征方法，包括二维/三维多尺度成像和光谱，以及参数量化，以了解纳米和微观尺度的降解机制。定义一个独特的、全面的结构和成分参数矩阵，以与MECC-IL和非原位测试相关；3)在导出的参数矩阵与非原位降解试验验证的MECC-IL之间建立多变量相关性。该项目将产生新的基本知识的降解机制的电化学系统通过收敛的相关性和建模。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值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.