Elucidating the increased ohmic resistances in zero-gap alkaline water electrolysis

Rodrigo Lira Garcia Barros; Mathy H.G. Kelleners; Lucas van Bemmel; Thijmen V.N. van der Leegte; John van der Schaaf; Matheus T. de Groot

doi:10.1016/j.electacta.2024.145161

Elucidating the increased ohmic resistances in zero-gap alkaline water electrolysis

Rodrigo Lira Garcia Barros
, Mathy H.G. Kelleners
, Lucas van Bemmel
, Thijmen V.N. van der Leegte
, John van der Schaaf
, Matheus T. de Groot (Corresponding author)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

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315 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This study investigates the increased ohmic resistances observed in zero-gap alkaline water electrolyzers, aiming to provide insights that can help enhance electrolyzer efficiency and enable operation at higher current densities. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) has been employed in combination with chronopotentiometry, utilizing a custom-designed flow cell with nickel perforated electrodes and a Zirfon UTP 500 diaphragm. Observed differences in area-ohmic resistance values obtained through I-V fitting and EIS, are ascribed to a non-linear Tafel slope at higher current densities. Ohmic resistance values measured with EIS are up to 27% higher than the ex-situ determined value, a significantly smaller percentage than expected based on previous studies. The presence of bubbles outside and inside the diaphragm is identified as the key factor contributing to this increased resistance. We recommend the use of an improved fitting approach, accounting for non-linear Tafel behavior, and the use of a 4-terminal configuration when performing EIS measurements to minimize cable and contact resistance.

Original language	English
Article number	145161
Number of pages	11
Journal	Electrochimica Acta
Volume	507
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2024.145161
Publication status	Published - 10 Dec 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Author(s)

Funding

We acknowledge the members of the AlkaliBoost project, Bert Vreman and Aled Meulenbroek for effective discussions about bubble behavior. We would like to acknowledge the experimental work performed by the TU/e DBL students (Q2 2021-2022). The authors thankfully acknowledge both the Topsector Energie funding by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (AlkaliBoost project: TWAS118004) and funding by Nobian and HyCC.

Funders	Funder number
Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland	TWAS118004

Keywords

4-terminal configuration
Contact resistance
Electrolysis
Ohmic resistance
Zero-gap

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title = "Elucidating the increased ohmic resistances in zero-gap alkaline water electrolysis",

abstract = "This study investigates the increased ohmic resistances observed in zero-gap alkaline water electrolyzers, aiming to provide insights that can help enhance electrolyzer efficiency and enable operation at higher current densities. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) has been employed in combination with chronopotentiometry, utilizing a custom-designed flow cell with nickel perforated electrodes and a Zirfon UTP 500 diaphragm. Observed differences in area-ohmic resistance values obtained through I-V fitting and EIS, are ascribed to a non-linear Tafel slope at higher current densities. Ohmic resistance values measured with EIS are up to 27\% higher than the ex-situ determined value, a significantly smaller percentage than expected based on previous studies. The presence of bubbles outside and inside the diaphragm is identified as the key factor contributing to this increased resistance. We recommend the use of an improved fitting approach, accounting for non-linear Tafel behavior, and the use of a 4-terminal configuration when performing EIS measurements to minimize cable and contact resistance.",

keywords = "4-terminal configuration, Contact resistance, Electrolysis, Ohmic resistance, Zero-gap",

author = "\{Lira Garcia Barros\}, Rodrigo and Kelleners, \{Mathy H.G.\} and \{van Bemmel\}, Lucas and \{van der Leegte\}, \{Thijmen V.N.\} and \{van der Schaaf\}, John and \{de Groot\}, \{Matheus T.\}",

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doi = "10.1016/j.electacta.2024.145161",

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AU - Lira Garcia Barros, Rodrigo

AU - Kelleners, Mathy H.G.

AU - van Bemmel, Lucas

AU - van der Leegte, Thijmen V.N.

AU - van der Schaaf, John

AU - de Groot, Matheus T.

PY - 2024/12/10

Y1 - 2024/12/10

N2 - This study investigates the increased ohmic resistances observed in zero-gap alkaline water electrolyzers, aiming to provide insights that can help enhance electrolyzer efficiency and enable operation at higher current densities. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) has been employed in combination with chronopotentiometry, utilizing a custom-designed flow cell with nickel perforated electrodes and a Zirfon UTP 500 diaphragm. Observed differences in area-ohmic resistance values obtained through I-V fitting and EIS, are ascribed to a non-linear Tafel slope at higher current densities. Ohmic resistance values measured with EIS are up to 27% higher than the ex-situ determined value, a significantly smaller percentage than expected based on previous studies. The presence of bubbles outside and inside the diaphragm is identified as the key factor contributing to this increased resistance. We recommend the use of an improved fitting approach, accounting for non-linear Tafel behavior, and the use of a 4-terminal configuration when performing EIS measurements to minimize cable and contact resistance.

AB - This study investigates the increased ohmic resistances observed in zero-gap alkaline water electrolyzers, aiming to provide insights that can help enhance electrolyzer efficiency and enable operation at higher current densities. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) has been employed in combination with chronopotentiometry, utilizing a custom-designed flow cell with nickel perforated electrodes and a Zirfon UTP 500 diaphragm. Observed differences in area-ohmic resistance values obtained through I-V fitting and EIS, are ascribed to a non-linear Tafel slope at higher current densities. Ohmic resistance values measured with EIS are up to 27% higher than the ex-situ determined value, a significantly smaller percentage than expected based on previous studies. The presence of bubbles outside and inside the diaphragm is identified as the key factor contributing to this increased resistance. We recommend the use of an improved fitting approach, accounting for non-linear Tafel behavior, and the use of a 4-terminal configuration when performing EIS measurements to minimize cable and contact resistance.

KW - 4-terminal configuration

KW - Contact resistance

KW - Electrolysis

KW - Ohmic resistance

KW - Zero-gap

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DO - 10.1016/j.electacta.2024.145161

M3 - Article

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ER -

Elucidating the increased ohmic resistances in zero-gap alkaline water electrolysis

Abstract

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Keywords

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