Materials Characterization
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Quantification of Active Sites on the Surface of PGM-free Catalysts
This capability uses specially developed molecular probes to poison the catalyst, in order to identify the active site and estimate its density through in situ techniques. Correlating the number of the probe molecules with the loss in measured activity after poisoning gives the number of active sites in a given material. Read More
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Internal Surface Energy and Wetting Properties of Electrocatalysts
This capability uses Inverse Gas Chromatography (IGC), a highly sensitive and versatile gas phase technique, to study the surface and properties of particulate and fibrous materials. In IGC, the roles of the stationary (solid) and mobile (gas or vapor) phases are inverted from traditional analytical gas chromatography (GC). Read More
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PGM-free Catalyst Synthesis, Analytical Characterization, and Electrochemical and Fuel Cell Testing
The expertise in PGM-free catalyst synthesis, characterization, and fuel cell testing at LANL is built on decades-long experience and proven results, and is the most important capability within LANL's PGM-free program by far. Read More
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X-Ray Characterization Techniques
This capability encompasses a variety of lab-based equipment specifically targeting the development of PGM-free catalysts, electrodes, and MEAs, including fundamental materials characterization techniques providing information about the physical and chemical properties of electrocatalysts, catalyst precursors, and electrodes. Read More
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X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is a surface sensitive method for obtaining both composition (atomic percentage) and chemical bonding (oxidation state) information. For PGM-free catalysts, XPS is particularly powerful for characterizing the transition metal, carbon, and nitrogen composition and chemical bonding. Read More
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Electron Tomography
STEM-based electron tomography is used to provide three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions of the structure (STEM image reconstruction) and composition (chemical map reconstruction) of materials. Electron tomography is analogous to bulk tomography techniques like X-ray tomography, but can provide information at a much higher resolution (sub-nm-scale) and can be used to combine morphological, crystallographic, and compositional data into 3D renderings. Read More
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Analytical Electron Microscopy
High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) are microscopy methods used to characterize the atomic-scale structure of PGM-free catalysts (typically in powder form) and the material constituents (catalyst and ionomer) comprising membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs). Read More
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In situ Electron Microscopy
The ability to study the dynamic behavior of PGM-free catalysts under relevant operating and/or synthesis conditions (e.g., temperature, pressure, potential cycling, and environment) can provide unprecedented nanometer-level insight regarding morphological and compositional changes that contribute to performance degradation. Read More
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Structure/Composition-Function Relationships and Active Sites
This capability focuses on revealing structure/composition-function relationships utilizing a coupling of rotating ring-disk electrode and ICP-MS techniques. Read More
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In situ and Operando Atomic, Nano-, and Micro-structure Characterization
This capability utilizes a combination of synchrotron X-ray spectroscopy, microscopy, tomography, and scattering and custom-built cells to determine the atomic structure, oxidation state, and nano- and micro-structure of catalysts, catalyst-ionomer inks, and electrodes in various environments. Read More