Welcome to the Electrochemistry Laboratory (LEC)
The Electrochemistry Laboratory (LEC), established 1988, is part of the Energy and Environment Research Division (ENE) at the Paul Scherrer Institute. The laboratory comprises 5 interacting research groups that deal with almost all aspects of electrochemical energy storage and conversion. PSI’s Electrochemistry Laboratory is Switzerland’s largest Center for Electrochemical Research.
PSI Electrochemistry Symposium
40th Swiss Electrochemistry Symposium
Topic: Critical Raw Materials for the Energy Transition
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Kultur & Kongresshaus Aarau, Schlossplatz 9, 5000 Aarau, Switzerland
Registration is open: https://www.psi.ch/ses24 (Firefox or Chrome)
Scientific Highlight
Unraveling degradation processes in a bipolar membrane CO2 electrolyzer by time-resolved X-ray tomographic microscopy
Employing a bipolar ion conducting membrane (BPM) in forward bias is a convenient solution for the biggest issues in the more common anion exchange membrane (AEM) CO2 co-electrolysis: the degradation of the performance caused by carbonate salt precipitation at the cathode and the decrease of net CO2 conversion caused by the crossover of this molecule from cathode to anode also requiring energy for downstream gas separation. However, the performance and stability of this device remain largely insufficient when using such a BPM configuration. To understand the reasons for this, we performed time-resolved X-ray tomographic microscopy of an operating BPM CO2 electrolyzer. The imaging method reveals partly unexpected degradation processes that result in design recommendations for improvement.
News
LEC on TV and Radio
Swiss Radio: SRF Regionaljournal Aargau Solothurn, May 8, 2017, 17:30h
Paul Scherrer Institut entwickelt Akku der Zukunft
Swiss TV: Kassensturz, January 17, 2017, 21:10h
Knopfbatterien im Test: Enorme Preisunterschiede
Swiss TV: Einstein, November 26, 2015, 21:07h
Die Renaissance der Batterie
Swiss TV: Einstein, November 21, 2013, 21:07h
Mobilität ohne Treibhausgase
Wasserstofftankstellen für die Schweiz?