Xu, Linlin;
(2024)
Nature-inspired electrochemical devices for sustainable and intensified production.
Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).
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Abstract
In recent years, considerable attention and research efforts have been directed towards polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) and CO2 electroreduction reaction (CO2RR) electrolysers, reflecting their potential to advance the transition towards a more sustainable economy. Nevertheless, challenges persist in the wider commercial deployment of these electrochemical devices, notably attributed to the high electrocatalyst cost, performance limitations associated with suboptimal flow field designs, and issues related to effective water management. An integrated engineering method that embraces the multiscale spatial and dynamic domains, which nature uses to intensify its processes and make them scalable and robust, holds promise for enhancing the sustainability and scalability of production processes at useful scales. Drawing inspiration from the integument structure of desert-dwelling lizards for passive water transport, an efficient water management strategy is devised for PEMFCs and CO2RR electrolysers. The research combines computational simulations, experimental validation, and advanced imaging techniques to evaluate the efficacy of the lizard-inspired design. In PEMFCs, the lizard-inspired flow fields improve reactant delivery to catalyst layers while maintaining effective water removal, supporting high power density and stable performance. For CO2RR electrolysers, the design enhances reactant accessibility, reduces salt precipitation, and sustains selectivity over extended operation periods. The results highlight the potential of the lizard-inspired design to overcome key limitations in electrochemical systems. The findings contribute to the development of practical solutions for next-generation PEMFCs and CO2RR electrolysers, advancing their commercial and environmental impact.
| Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Qualification: | Ph.D |
| Title: | Nature-inspired electrochemical devices for sustainable and intensified production |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright © The Author 2024. Original content in this thesis is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). Any third-party copyright material present remains the property of its respective owner(s) and is licensed under its existing terms. Access may initially be restricted at the author’s request. |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Dept of Chemical Engineering |
| URI: | https://discovery-pp.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10201135 |
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