Hasanpour Sadegh, Rashidi Armin, Walsh Tavia, Pagan Erik, Milani Abbas S, Akbari Mohsen, Djilali Ned
Laboratory for Innovations in Microengineering (LiME), Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8P 5C2, Canada.
Department of Mechanical Engineering and Institute for Integrated Energy System, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 3P6, Canada.
ACS Omega. 2021 Mar 29;6(14):9509-9519. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.0c06309. eCollection 2021 Apr 13.
Temperature and humidity measurements in electrochemical energy devices are essential for maximizing their overall performance under different operating conditions and avoiding hazardous consequences that may arise from the malfunction of these systems. Using sensors for in situ measurements of temperature and relative humidity (RH) is a promising approach for continuous monitoring and management of electrochemical power sources. Here, we report on the feasibility of using thread-based sensors for in situ measurements of temperature and RH in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) as an example of electrochemical energy devices. Commodity threads are low-cost and flexible materials that hold great promise for the creation of complex three-dimensional (3D) circuits using well-established textile methods such as weaving, braiding, and embroidering. Ex situ and in situ characterization show that threads can be introduced in the gas diffusion layer (GDL) structure to inscribe water highways within the GDL with minimal impact on the GDL microstructure and transport properties. Fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) is coated on thread-based sensors to decouple the response to temperature and humidity; the resulting threads achieve a linear change of resistance with temperature (-0.31%/°C), while RH is monitored with a second thread coated with poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). The combination of both threads allows for minimally invasive and dynamically responsive monitoring of local temperature and RH within the electrode of PEMFCs.
在电化学能量装置中进行温度和湿度测量，对于在不同运行条件下最大化其整体性能以及避免这些系统故障可能产生的危险后果至关重要。使用传感器原位测量温度和相对湿度（RH）是一种对电化学电源进行连续监测和管理的有前景的方法。在此，我们以质子交换膜燃料电池（PEMFC）作为电化学能量装置的一个例子，报告使用基于线的传感器原位测量温度和RH的可行性。商品线是低成本且灵活的材料，对于使用编织、编织和刺绣等成熟的纺织方法创建复杂的三维（3D）电路具有很大的前景。非原位和原位表征表明，可以将线引入气体扩散层（GDL）结构中，以在GDL内刻画出水路，同时对GDL的微观结构和传输性能影响最小。在基于线的传感器上涂覆氟化乙烯丙烯（FEP）以解耦对温度和湿度的响应；所得的线实现了电阻随温度的线性变化（-0.31%/°C），而通过涂覆有聚二甲基硅氧烷（PDMS）的第二条线监测RH。这两条线的组合允许对PEMFC电极内的局部温度和RH进行微创且动态响应的监测。
