Method—Practices and Pitfalls in Voltage Breakdown Analysis of Electrochemical Energy-Conversion Systems

Gerhardt, Michael R. (ORCID:0000000212723607); Pant, Lalit M. (ORCID:0000000204323902); Bui, Justin C. (ORCID:000000034525957X); Crothers, Andrew R.; Ehlinger, Victoria M.; Fornaciari, Julie C. (ORCID:0000000204732298); Liu, Jiangjin (ORCID:0000000214084335); Weber, Adam Z. (ORCID:0000000277491624)

doi:10.1149/1945-7111/abf061

DOE OSTI · 1835378

Method—Practices and Pitfalls in Voltage Breakdown Analysis of Electrochemical Energy-Conversion Systems

Gerhardt, Michael R. (ORCID:0000000212723607)·Pant, Lalit M. (ORCID:0000000204323902)·Bui, Justin C. (ORCID:000000034525957X)·Crothers, Andrew R.·Ehlinger, Victoria M.·Fornaciari, Julie C. (ORCID:0000000204732298)·Liu, Jiangjin (ORCID:0000000214084335)·Weber, Adam Z. (ORCID:0000000277491624)

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Abstract

Many electrochemical energy-conversion systems are evaluated by polarization curves, which report the cell voltage across a range of current densities and are a global measure of operation and state of health. Mathematical models can be used to deconstruct the measured overall voltage and identify and quantify the voltage-loss sources, such as kinetic, ohmic, and mass-transport effects. These results elucidate the best pathways for improved performance. In this work, we discuss several voltage-breakdown methods and provide examples across different low-temperature, membrane-based electrochemical systems including electrolyzers, fuel cells, and related electrochemical energy-conversion devices. We present best practices to guide experimentalists and theorists in polarization-curve breakdown analysis.

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Gerhardt, Michael R. (ORCID:0000000212723607), Pant, Lalit M. (ORCID:0000000204323902), Bui, Justin C. (ORCID:000000034525957X), Crothers, Andrew R., Ehlinger, Victoria M., Fornaciari, Julie C. (ORCID:0000000204732298), Liu, Jiangjin (ORCID:0000000214084335), Weber, Adam Z. (ORCID:0000000277491624). 2021-07-23. Method—Practices and Pitfalls in Voltage Breakdown Analysis of Electrochemical Energy-Conversion Systems. https://doi.org/10.1149/1945-7111%2Fabf061

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