Operando X-ray Fluorescence Analysis of Through-plane Cerium Ion Radical Quencher Migration in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells

Polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) need to achieve long-term durability for widespread commercialization. Chemical degradation of the perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) membrane caused by radical species (·OH) can be mitigated by adding cerium ions as radical scavengers; however, cerium ions migrate...

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Main Authors: Aika TAKEZAWA, Yoichiro TSUJI, Takahiko ASAOKA, Maria OHKI, Oki SEKIZAWA, Kiyofumi NITTA, Yuki ORIKASA
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Electrochemical Society of Japan 2025-06-01
Series:Electrochemistry
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Online Access:https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/electrochemistry/93/6/93_25-00055/_html/-char/en
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author Aika TAKEZAWA
Yoichiro TSUJI
Takahiko ASAOKA
Maria OHKI
Oki SEKIZAWA
Kiyofumi NITTA
Yuki ORIKASA
author_facet Aika TAKEZAWA
Yoichiro TSUJI
Takahiko ASAOKA
Maria OHKI
Oki SEKIZAWA
Kiyofumi NITTA
Yuki ORIKASA
author_sort Aika TAKEZAWA
collection DOAJ
description Polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) need to achieve long-term durability for widespread commercialization. Chemical degradation of the perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) membrane caused by radical species (·OH) can be mitigated by adding cerium ions as radical scavengers; however, cerium ions migrate within the membrane, potentially reducing their effectiveness. In this study, we have developed an operando high-energy microbeam X-ray fluorescence (XRF) system to visualize the distribution of cerium ions in the electrolyte membrane and catalyst layers under fuel cell operating conditions. Scanning across the membrane and catalyst layers with sub-micron spatial resolution directly observes rapid migration of cerium ions from the membrane to the cathode side immediately after current loading. Conversely, when the cell is returned to open-circuit voltage (OCV), the cerium ions diffuse back into the membrane. The amount of migrated cerium ions depends on the current density, suggesting that higher current loads accelerate cerium ion transport toward the cathode.
format Article
id doaj-art-b0a72c1a1b494d2f96e4dc8a4ab71f6a
institution DOAJ
issn 2186-2451
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher The Electrochemical Society of Japan
record_format Article
series Electrochemistry
spelling doaj-art-b0a72c1a1b494d2f96e4dc8a4ab71f6a2025-08-20T03:22:37ZengThe Electrochemical Society of JapanElectrochemistry2186-24512025-06-0193606700406700410.5796/electrochemistry.25-00055electrochemistryOperando X-ray Fluorescence Analysis of Through-plane Cerium Ion Radical Quencher Migration in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel CellsAika TAKEZAWA0Yoichiro TSUJI1Takahiko ASAOKA2Maria OHKI3Oki SEKIZAWA4Kiyofumi NITTA5Yuki ORIKASA6https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9869-9520Department of Applied Chemistry, Ritsumeikan UniversityFuel Cell Cutting-Edge Research Center Technology Research Association (FC-Cubic)Fuel Cell Cutting-Edge Research Center Technology Research Association (FC-Cubic)Fuel Cell Cutting-Edge Research Center Technology Research Association (FC-Cubic)Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI)Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI)Department of Applied Chemistry, Ritsumeikan UniversityPolymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) need to achieve long-term durability for widespread commercialization. Chemical degradation of the perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) membrane caused by radical species (·OH) can be mitigated by adding cerium ions as radical scavengers; however, cerium ions migrate within the membrane, potentially reducing their effectiveness. In this study, we have developed an operando high-energy microbeam X-ray fluorescence (XRF) system to visualize the distribution of cerium ions in the electrolyte membrane and catalyst layers under fuel cell operating conditions. Scanning across the membrane and catalyst layers with sub-micron spatial resolution directly observes rapid migration of cerium ions from the membrane to the cathode side immediately after current loading. Conversely, when the cell is returned to open-circuit voltage (OCV), the cerium ions diffuse back into the membrane. The amount of migrated cerium ions depends on the current density, suggesting that higher current loads accelerate cerium ion transport toward the cathode.https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/electrochemistry/93/6/93_25-00055/_html/-char/enpolymer electrolyte fuel cellpolymer electrolyte membraneradical quencheroperando xrf analysis
spellingShingle Aika TAKEZAWA
Yoichiro TSUJI
Takahiko ASAOKA
Maria OHKI
Oki SEKIZAWA
Kiyofumi NITTA
Yuki ORIKASA
Operando X-ray Fluorescence Analysis of Through-plane Cerium Ion Radical Quencher Migration in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells
Electrochemistry
polymer electrolyte fuel cell
polymer electrolyte membrane
radical quencher
operando xrf analysis
title Operando X-ray Fluorescence Analysis of Through-plane Cerium Ion Radical Quencher Migration in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells
title_full Operando X-ray Fluorescence Analysis of Through-plane Cerium Ion Radical Quencher Migration in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells
title_fullStr Operando X-ray Fluorescence Analysis of Through-plane Cerium Ion Radical Quencher Migration in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells
title_full_unstemmed Operando X-ray Fluorescence Analysis of Through-plane Cerium Ion Radical Quencher Migration in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells
title_short Operando X-ray Fluorescence Analysis of Through-plane Cerium Ion Radical Quencher Migration in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells
title_sort operando x ray fluorescence analysis of through plane cerium ion radical quencher migration in polymer electrolyte fuel cells
topic polymer electrolyte fuel cell
polymer electrolyte membrane
radical quencher
operando xrf analysis
url https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/electrochemistry/93/6/93_25-00055/_html/-char/en
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