@article{34672,
  author = {Pongsarun Satjaritanun and Maeve O'Brien and Devashish Kulkarni and Sirivatch Shimpalee and Cristopher Capuano and Katherine E Ayers and Nemanja Danilovic and Dilworth Y Parkinson and Iryna V Zenyuk},
  title = {Observation of Preferential Pathways for Oxygen Removal through Porous Transport Layers of Polymer Electrolyte Water Electrolyzers},
  abstract = {<p>Understanding the relationships between porous transport layer (PTL) morphology and oxygen removal is essential to improve the polymer electrolyte water electrolyzer (PEWE) performance. Operando X-ray computed tomography and machine learning were performed on a model electrolyzer at different water flow rates and current densities to determine how these operating conditions alter oxygen transport in the PTLs. We report a direct observation of oxygen taking preferential pathways through the PTL, regardless of the water flow rate or current density (1-4 A/cm2). Oxygen distribution in the PTL had a periodic behavior with period of 400 μm. A computational fluid dynamics model was used to predict oxygen distribution in the PTL showing periodic oxygen front. Observed oxygen distribution is due to low in-plane PTL tortuosity and high porosity enabling merging of oxygen bubbles in the middle of the PTL and also due to aerophobicity of the layer.</p>},
  year = {2020},
  journal = {iScience},
  volume = {23},
  pages = {101783},
  month = {11/2020},
  issn = {25890042},
  doi = {10.1016/j.isci.2020.101783},
  language = {eng},
}