| AVS 61st International Symposium & Exhibition | |
| Novel Trends in Synchrotron and FEL-Based Analysis Focus Topic | Monday Sessions |
| Session SA-MoA |
| Session: | Synchrotron Studies of Processes in Energy Conversion, Electronic Devices and Other Materials II |
| Presenter: | Benedetto Bozzini, Universita' del Salento - Italy |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
Fuel cells and supercapacitors are electrochemical devices providing efficient and pollution-free production and transformation of electricity. Notwithstanding their environmental appeal, a host of materials-science problems – chiefly related to the limited durability of crucial functional components – are hindering the widespread application of these otherwise promising devices. Nanotechnology is foreseen to play a key role in the elimination of such drawbacks. Some nanotechnology solutions have already led to sensitive improvements of properties, functionality and performance of some components. However, the present knowledge is mostly at the macroscopic and empirical trial-and-error level and the answers to many questions require much deeper scientific understanding of the origin of degradation processes. In this regard, the development and implementation of appropriate methods for in-situ characterization of cell components at the functionally relevant length scales is highly required. Soft X-ray spectroscopies, namely X-ray absorption spectroscopy, X-ray emission (fluorescence) spectroscopy, resonant inelastic X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy have been extensively employed for ex-situ characterization of materials used in electrochemical systems. Furthermore, adding spatial resolution capabilities by implementing proper optical solutions has opened unique opportunities for monitoring material changes and mass transport events occurring at submicron length scales. The input from these methods is providing correlative information about the status of the electrode surface and of the electrode/electrolyte interface and also of the processes occurring under operation conditions at the three phase boundary, namely the electrode-electrolyte-reactant interface1-4. REFERENCES [1] B. Bozzini, A. Gianoncelli, P. Bocchetta, S. Dal Zilio, G. Kourousias, Anal. Chem. 86, 664 (2014)
[2] B. Bozzini, M. Amati, L. Gregoratti, M. Kiskinova, Sci. Rep. 3, 2848 (2013)
[3] B. Bozzini, A. Gianoncelli, C. Mele, M. Kiskinova, Electrochim. Acta 114, 889 (2013)
[4] B. Bozzini, M. Kazemian Abyaneh, M. Amati, A. Gianoncelli, L. Gregoratti, B. Kaulich, Maya Kiskinova, Chemistry – A European Journal 18, 10196 (2012)