Membranes and Electrochemical Cells
Radiation grafted proton conducting membrane
Our mission is to create innovation in the area of polymer electrolyte materials for electrochemical applications, notably fuel cells, electrolysis cells, and redox flow cells. We aim to prepare polymers with desired functionalities for the respective application and operating conditions, using commercially available and low-cost materials (base films, monomers and additives) and industrially viable processing techniques. Furthermore, we develop dedicated diagnostic methods to study limitations in cell performance and aging of materials and components.
Gaia Membranes
Gaia Membranes is a PSI Spin-off. Efficient energy storage is at the centre of this vision. Amphion™ is an innovative membrane technology designed to maximise the efficiency of redox flow battery systems. Amphion™ membranes overcome the limitations of traditional cation and anion exchange membranes through an amphoteric technology that simultaneously enables high proton conductivity and superior ionic selectivity.
Contact:
- Elian Pusceddu, CEO
- Fabio Oldenburg, CTO
Expertise
Redox-Flow test bench
Our synthetic strategy is based on the preparation and functionalization of polymer films via radiation-induced grafting to obtain membranes containing ionic sites. Activation of the base polymer film can be done using an electron beam (performed externally). For surface grafting, the film is activated in a plasma chamber. Activated films are stored in a fridge at a temperature of -80°C. For the grafting reaction, a wide range of vinyl monomers amenable to radical polymerization can be used, such as styrenes and acrylics. Post-treatment of grafted films may involve various chemical processing steps, such as sulfonation to introduce proton exchange sites.
Fuel cell stack (6 cells) for membrane performance and durability evaluation
The laboratory has a wide range of characterization methods for ex situ characterization of starting materials, intermediates and membranes: infrared and Raman spectroscopy for composition analysis, SEM-EDX, XPS, DSC/TGA, tensile testing machine, etc. The conductivity of membranes is measured using ac impedance spectroscopy (in-plane or through-plane). In addition, we have a well-equiped fuel cell test infrastructure with test benches for single cells up to stacks for 30 kW power output. We aim to understand component and cell performance characteristics and limitations thereof, in particular aging phenomena of membranes and electrodes under application-relevant or accelerated test conditions.
Water electrolysis test benches (pressure up to 20 bar)
Water electrolysis plays a key role in future energy scenarios (power-to-gas). We study materials aspects of polymer electrolyte water electrolyzers with a few to increasing performance and efficiency and investigate mechanican and chemical aging phenomena of key cell components. Two custom-built test benches for cells of 25 cm2 active area can be operated up to a pressure of 20 bar. We can measure impedance spectra and monitor the purity of gases (in particular H2 contamination in O2) continuously.
Research Team
- Lorenz Gubler, Head
- Alexander Muroyama, Postdoctoral Research Fellow
- Tamás Németh, Postdoctoral Research Fellow
- Elena Zanzola, Postdoctoral Research Fellow
- Aaron Schneider, Lab Technician
- Steffen Garbe, PhD Student
- Tym De Wild, PhD Student
- Jamie Duburg, PhD Student
- Lucy Fischer, Lab Technician (Gaia Membranes)
- Matteo Lecchi, Master Thesis Student (Politecnico di Milano)
Open Positions
There are currently no open positions in our group.
Furthermore, we have regular openings for student's projects in different areas: fuel cells, electrolyzers, redox flow cells on topics ranging from materials synthesis and characterization to test system design and implementation.
Projects
| Project | Description | Duration | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | Projects funded by industrial partners, subject to confidentiality | Lorenz Gubler | |
| RFBsep | Functional composite separator-membrane materials for redox flow batteries Swiss National Science Foundation |
2020-2023 | Lorenz Gubler |
| NF-Antiox17 | Radical attack, antioxidants and polymer repair chemistry in hydrocarbon based fuel cell membranes Swiss National Science Foundation |
2018-2021 | Lorenz Gubler |
| ELYTEMP | Elevated temperature (90-95°C) polymer electrolyte water electrolysis for reduced cost of hydrogen for energy applications Swiss Federal Office of Energy |
2018-2021 | Lorenz Gubler |
| Bridge RFB | Functionalized separators enabling a break-through of redox flow batteries for stationary energy storage SNF Bridge |
2018-2020 | Lorenz Gubler |
Recent Publications
A complete publication list can be found on Scopus.
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Babic U, Tarik M, Schmidt TJ, Gubler L
Understanding the effects of material properties and operating conditions on component aging in polymer electrolyte water electrolyzers
Journal of Power Sources. 2020; 451: 227778 (8 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2020.227778
DORA PSI -
Ben youcef H, Henkensmeier D, Balog S, Scherer GG, Gubler L
Copolymer synergistic coupling for chemical stability and improved gas barrier properties of a polymer electrolyte membrane for fuel cell applications
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 2020; 45(11): 7059-7068. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2019.12.208
DORA PSI -
Gubler L, Vonlanthen D, Schneider A, Oldenburg FJ
Composite membranes containing a porous separator and a polybenzimidazole thin film for vanadium redox flow batteries
Journal of The Electrochemical Society. 2020; 167(10): 100502 (17 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1149/1945-7111/ab945f
DORA PSI -
Nolte TM, Nauser T, Gubler L
Attack of hydroxyl radicals to α-methyl-styrene sulfonate polymers and cerium-mediated repair via radical cations
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. 2020; 22(8): 4516-4525. https://doi.org/10.1039/C9CP05454E
DORA PSI -
Babic U, Zlobinski M, Schmidt TJ, Boillat P, Gubler L
CO2-assisted regeneration of a polymer electrolyte water electrolyzer contaminated with metal ion impurities
Journal of the Electrochemical Society. 2019; 166(10): F610-F619. https://doi.org/10.1149/2.0851910jes
DORA PSI -
Babic U, Nilsson E, Pătru A, Schmidt TJ, Gubler L
Proton transport in catalyst layers of a polymer electrolyte water electrolyzer: effect of the anode catalyst loading
Journal of the Electrochemical Society. 2019; 166(4): F214-F220. https://doi.org/10.1149/2.0341904jes
DORA PSI -
Erbach S, Pribyl B, Klages M, Spitthoff L, Borah K, Epple S, et al.
Influence of operating conditions on permeation of CO2 through the membrane in an automotive PEMFC system
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 2019; 44(25): 12760-12771. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2018.10.033
DORA PSI -
Garbe S, Babic U, Nilsson E, Schmidt TJ, Gubler L
Communication—Pt-doped thin membranes for gas crossover suppression in polymer electrolyte water electrolysis
Journal of the Electrochemical Society. 2019; 166(13): F873-F875. https://doi.org/10.1149/2.0111913jes
DORA PSI -
Gubler L
Membranes and separators for redox flow batteries
Current Opinion in Electrochemistry. 2019; 18: 31-36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coelec.2019.08.007
DORA PSI -
Oldenburg FJ, Ouarga A, Schmidt TJ, Gubler L
Accelerated stress test method for the assessment of membrane lifetime in vanadium redox flow batteries
ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. 2019; 11(51): 47917-47928. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.9b15736
DORA PSI -
Oldenburg FJ, Nilsson E, Schmidt TJ, Gubler L
Tackling capacity fading in vanadium redox flow batteries with amphoteric polybenzimidazole/nafion bilayer membranes
ChemSusChem. 2019; 12(12): 2620-2627. https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.201900546
DORA PSI