Membranes and Electrochemical Cells

Radiation grafted proton conducting membrane
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 logo

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.

Expertise

Redox-Flow test bench
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
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 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.
M&EC and Gaia team
Membranes & Electrochemical Cells Group and Gaia Membranes Team at the annual retreat 2019 in Baden
  • Lorenz Gubler, Head
  • Elian Pusceddu, PSI Founder Fellow
    (CEO, Gaia Membranes)
  • Fabio Oldenburg, PSI Founder Fellow
    (CTO, Gaia Membranes)
  • Alexander Muroyama, Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  • Tamás Németh, Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  • Aaron Schneider, Lab Technician
  • Steffen Garbe, PhD Student
  • Tym De Wild, PhD Student
  • Lucy Fischer, Lab Technician (Gaia Membranes)
  • Joseph Ciccone, Development Chemist (Gaia Membranes)
  • Albert Albert, Academic Guest
  • Lea Marti, Semester Project Student (ETHZ)

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.
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

A complete publication list can be found on Scopus.

 

  • 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
  • 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

Contact

Group Head
Dr. Lorenz Gubler
Paul Scherrer Institut
5232 Villigen-PSI
Switzerland

Telephone: +41 56 310 2673
E-mail: lorenz.gubler@psi.ch

Secretary
Cordelia Gloor
Telephone: +41 56 310 29 19
E-mail: cordelia.gloor@psi.ch