PhD Thesis Defence Presentations - Panagiotis Giotakos

Τίτλος Παρουσίασης (Presentation Title): Mathematical Modeling of Electrocatalytic Layers in High Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells
Presentation Type (Τύπος Παρουσίασης): Υποστήριξη Διδακτορικής Διατριβής
Ονοματεπώνυμο Ομιλητή (Speakers Full Name): Παναγιώτης Γιωτάκος
Προέλευση Ομιλητή (Speakers Affiliation): Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Patras
Seminar Room (Αίθουσα): Βιβλιοθήκη "Αλκιβιάδης Χ. Παγιατάκης"
Ημερομηνία: Δευ, 15 Μάιος 2023, Ώρα: 13:00 - 16:00
Διεύθυνση Διαδικτυακής Μετάδοσης: PhD Thesis Defense - Panagiotis Giotakos
Περίληψη (Abstract)

In today’s modern era, the need for decarbonisation of energy production is imperative for the sustainable development and prosperity of human society. The development of phosphoric acid doped polybenzimidazole (PBI) electrolyte membranes in 1995 allowed the operation of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cells (FC) at temperatures higher than 100oC. This led to the development of High Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (HT-PEMFC), one of the most potent electrochemical devices for efficient clean power production. Since then, there has been extensive work done on developing and optimizing HT-PEMFCs for improved performance, extending the lifetime of operation, reducing manufacturing costs and most importantly increasing the understanding of the electrochemical processes occurring during operation.

The aim of this dissertation is to provide a deeper understanding of the electrochemical processes inside the catalytic layers of the two electrodes, focusing especially on the cathodic electrode, where Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) takes place. ORR mechanism has been under the microscope for more than five decades, since it is solely responsible for introducing the largest potential losses, which in order to mitigate require high amounts of expensive Pt catalyst loadings.

To this end, mathematical modeling (both numerical and analytical) is successfully coupled with two electrochemical characterization methods; the steady state polarization (IV) curve characterization method and the Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) characterization method. Various parameters that affect the performance of  HT-PEMFCs are studied by applying IV-EIS, however the main contribution of this thesis comes from unraveling the sluggish kinetics and energetics of the so far elusive ORR. 

We performed meticulous/detailed experimental steady state (IV) and EIS measurements in the activation region of operation by carefully controling the experimental operating conditions, in order to avoid mass transport limitations and excessive water production, which would severely affect the structure of the Cathodic catalytic layer (CCL). 

By experimentally observing that the limiting current density of the FC was controlled by kinetics (instead of mass transport), we employed the simplest ORR mechanism (the Dissociative Pathway) using microkinetic modeling based on the Transition State Theory. For the representation of the CCL a macro-homogeneous Transmission Line Model (TLM) was used and both the IV and EIS were derived analytically, (with only two somewhat arbitrary assumed parameters i.e., the symmetry factor β = 0.5 and Langmuir isotherm kinetics). We were able not only to achieve excellent fitting results (using our in house developed Monte Carlo Least Squares Fitting Algorithm) with the experimental data (IV & EIS), but to successfully extract ORR kinetics (such as kinetic constants, double layer capacitance, ionic conductivity etc.) and calculate the energetics of the elementary steps, i.e.  both the activation energies (kinetics) and the reaction steps’ free energies (thermodynamics), bridging the gap between Density Functional Theory equilibrium analysis and electrochemical kinetics dynamic analysis.

The excellent fitting results revealed that: i) all charge transfer reaction steps appear under the same high frequency arc,  directly related to the Cdl of the electrochemical interface, while the low frequency arc originates from the ORR kinetic inertia, ii) both EIS and polarization resistance are dominated by the intrinsic ORR kinetic inertia due to the competitive nature of the elementary reaction steps on the coverages of the adsorbed species (Oad and OHad), iii) with the help of Degree of Rate Control (DRC) analysis we identified O2(g) dissociative adsorption as the main limiting step responsible for the introduction of high ORR kinetic and thermodynamic overpotentials, iv) the independent calculation of H2(g) crossover current density from the anode side was in excellent agreement with our model predictions and proved that it is the one which solely responsible for the deviation of the experimental open circuit potential from its thermodynamic Nernst value. 

Last but not least, the contributions of this thesis not only enrich the scarce literature of successfully extracting kinetic and energetic information of an actual HT-PEMFC but also provide a guide, a methodology for screening and optimizing electrocatalysts for multistep electrochemical reactions.
 

Σύντομο Βιογραφικό Ομιλητή (Speakers Short CV)

Panagiotis Giotakos graduated in 2010 with a BSc and MSc degree from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the Democritus University of Thrace, where he completed his Master thesis entitled "Design of a Class F High Power Microwave Amplifier". He also holds a second Master's Degree in Science in Education from the Department of Primary Education of University of Ioannina, where he completed the master thesis entitled "Educational Neuroscience, a literature review". In 2013, he initially enrolled in the Post Graduate Program of the Chemical Engineering Department of the University of Patras to obtain his PhD degree but started his PhD studies in 2014, where he joined the research group of the Electrochemical Processes Laboratory of the Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences of the Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH-ICE-HT). His PhD thesis entitled ”Mathematical Modeling of Electrocatalytic Layers in High Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells” was under the direct supervision of Dr. Stylianos Neofytidis, Director of ITE. Throughout the duration of his PhD he has participated in more than six research projects (European and National) where he received funding as a postgraduate fellow. He has actively participated in the writing of three research proposals (two national and one European (ERC). His research interests are related to the study of electrochemical reactions, catalysis, hydrogen technologies, Fuel Cells, Lithium Ion Batteries and Mathematical Modelling of Electrochemical/Chemical Reactors and processes.

Publications

  • Unraveling the elusive oxygen reduction reaction electrokinetics and energetics in PEM fuel cells
    Electrochimica Acta
    2023-01 | Journal article
    DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2022.141591
    CONTRIBUTORS: Dimitrios-Panagiotis Argyropoulos; George Zardalidis; P.I. Giotakos; Maria Daletou; Filippos Farmakis
     
  • Study of the Role of Void and Residual Silicon Dioxide on the Electrochemical Performance of Silicon Nanoparticles Encapsulated by Graphene
    Nanomaterials
    2021-10-27 | journal-article
    DOI: 10.3390/nano11112864
    CONTRIBUTORS: P.I. Giotakos; S.G. Neophytides
     
  • Two-Layer Genetic Algorithm for the Charge Scheduling of Electric Vehicles
    2020 22nd European Conference on Power Electronics and Applications (EPE'20 ECCE Europe)
    2020-09 | Conference paper
    DOI: 10.23919/epe20ecceeurope43536.2020.9215685
    CONTRIBUTORS: Nikolaos T. Milas; Dimitris A. Mourtzis; P.I. Giotakos; Emmanuel C. Tatakis
     
  • Physical modeling of the electrochemical impedance spectra for the O2 reduction reaction in HTPEM fuel cells’ cathodic electrochemical interface
    Electrochimica Acta
    2018-12 | Journal article
    DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2018.08.141
    Part of ISSN: 0013-4686
    CONTRIBUTORS: P.I. Giotakos; S.G. Neophytides
     
  • Simulation of HT-PEMFC AC Impedance Spectra: Relaxation Impedance and Identification of Oxygen Reduction Reaction Mechanism
    ECS Meeting Abstracts
    2017-09-01 | Journal article
    DOI: 10.1149/MA2017-02/32/1355
    CONTRIBUTORS: P.I. Giotakos; S.G. Neophytides
     
  • Dynamic Modeling for the Simulation of AC Spectra for HT-PEMFC
    ECS Meeting Abstracts
    2017-09-01 | Journal article
    DOI: 10.1149/MA2015-02/37/1291
    CONTRIBUTORS: P.I. Giotakos; S.G. Neophytides

Participation in Conferences (Oral Presentations):