Infrastructure for producing fuel cell components and catalysts for chemical and electrochemical processes. This includes the production of polymer electrolyte membranes and the application of electrodes to a carrier or the membrane, which enables the in-house manufacturing of complete membrane electrode assemblies (MEA).

The manufacturing of solid catalysts in small series is particularly relevant for innovative heterogeneous catalytic processes in hydrocarbon processing and hydrogen-related processes. Suitable samples are prepared wet-chemically and/or dry-chemically.

Equipment:

• Hot press (Fontijne Vlaardingen Holland TP200)
• Automatic Film Applicator (Elcometer 4340)
• Spray coater (Sonotek ExactaCoat OP3)
• Electro-spinning (Tongli-Tech TL-Pro)
• Intensive mixer (Eirich EL1)
• Planetary mill (Fritsch Pulverisette 6)
• High temperature ovens (…)

Rotating-Disc-Electrode (RDE) for ex-situ characterization as well as half-and single cell tests for in-situ characterization of catalysts for electrochemical cells. In detail Long-term properties or degradation effects are characterized in appropriate setups at different operating points.

Equipment:

• RDE/RRDE test stands (Gamry / Autolab)
• Multichannel single-cell test stand (BaSyTec)
• Electrochemical characterization (Zahner IM6ex plus PP240)
• Electric loads (Chroma 63306A, Zahner EL300)

Electrochemical characterization and long-term testing:

• single fuel cells
• short stacks
• segmented cells.

Polarization curve measurements, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) are applied for determination of:

• the performance of a fuel cell or stack
• the electrochemical active surface area
• hydrogen crossover
• parasitic currents through the membrane

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is applied to identify certain degradation phenomena and total harmonic distortion analysis (THDA) is applied as a fast in-situ online monitoring technique.
Off-gas CO₂-monitoring and waste water analysis (fluoride/fluorine emission analysis) characterize carbon corrosion and membrane degradation.

Equipment:

• Test stand for single cells and short stacks (1 W - 500 W, Greenlight Innovation)
• Electrochemical characterization (Zahner Electric IM6ex plus PP240, Metrohm AUTOLAB PGSTAT302N, Gamry Instruments Interface 5000 und 1000)
• Segmented cells (S++)
• Electric loads (Chroma 63306A, Zahner EL300)
• Fluoride ion selective electrode (Xylem Analytics F800)

Process gas and trace gas analytic systems for in-situ and ex-situ analysis of refinery-, hydrogen- and synthetic gases. Determination by micro gas chromatograph (µGC) or infrared spectrometer in the range of 1 ppm-100% for a wide range of common compounds:

• H₂
• CO
• CO₂
• CH₄
• C₂-C₆
• H₂S
• SO₂
• etc.

Equipment:

• Micro gas chromatograph (Inficon MicroGC 3000A)
• Micro gas chromatograph (Inficon Fusion)
• Infrared spectrometer (ABB AO2000, LIMAS, URAS)

Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) can be performed in the range between RT and 1250 °C on inorganic and organic samples. A steam furnace, allows the supply of steam in quantities of up to 10 g/h.

Possible applications are determination of:

• decomposition temperatures
• melting temperatures
• evaporation temperatures
• material stability tests
• phase transition temperatures.

Equipment:

Thermogravimetric balance (Netzsch STA 449 C Jupiter) including:

• TGA, DSC and DTA system
• Steam generator (ADrop)

Small- and large-scale lab test benches for the evaluation of high-temperature hydrocarbon- and hydrogen-related processes (up to 1000 °C) from 10 W to 20 kW. Characterization and long-term lifetime testing of catalytic materials, thermal investigation of reactor designs and -materials as well as demonstration at an enlarged scale for process characterization and -development.

Equipment:

• Test stands for high-temperature processes (10 W – 20 kW)
• Product gas analysis (µGC, iR-spectroscopy)
• Condensate analysis (GC/MS)

Equipment for the evaluation of the porosity of solids. The analysis comprises of a low and a high pressure step to characterize the pore size distribution within the sample by forcing mercury into the pores. To allow meaningful analyses, the sample has to be resistant towards pressure of up to 400 MPa and needs to be stable in pure Hg. Samples of approx. 0.5g can be tested.

Equipment:

• Mercury porosimeter (PASCAL 140/440) with semi-automatic filling station and characterization software