The reactions occurring at the electrodes (anode and cathode) of fuel cells and batteries can be probed by in operando X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS). Both the more traditional extended fine structure (EXAFS) analysis and more novel near edge structure difference (?� XANES) analysis techniques can be used. The EXAFS provides particle size and morphology information on the nanoparticle catalysts, and ?� XANES can provide catalysts adsorbate identity and relative coverage with a wide range of variables: potential, current, time, and/or spatial coordinate relative to fuel and/or oxygen inlet. In this work, recent XAS results will be presented for the following sytems: spaced resolved data for a methanol fuel cell under oxygen rich and starved conditions; time resolved data for an ethanol fuel cell; potential resolved data for LiCoO2 cathode battery material; and time resolved discharge data for a K2FeO4 cathode for both micron and nonometer sized particles.

X-ray absorption spectroscopy: An in operando probe of electrode reactions in fuel cells and batteries

245th National Meeting (2013)

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