In-situ observation of dynamic water behavior in polymer electrolyte fuel cell by combined method of Small-Angle Neutron Scattering and Neutron Radiography

Abstract

In-situ observation was conducted on an operating polymer electrolyte fuel cell with a combined method of small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and neutron radiography (NR). The combined measurement system has been recently developed to visualize water in a wide length scale from nano- to millimeter and successfully detected a spatial distribution of the water generated in individual cell elements; NR macroscopically detected the water in a gas diffusion layer and a flow-field, whereas SANS microscopically did in a membrane electrode assembly. In particular SANS was found to be a strong tool to make a rather precise analysis on the water content inside of ion conducting channels of polymer electrolyte membrane. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd.