Abstract: An electrochemical state of health (SoH) estimating method. The method includes receiving in-operation voltage and/or current signals from a fuel cell stack during operation of the fuel cell stack at one or more operational condition(s). The method further includes comparing an in-operation voltage-current relationship based on the in-operation voltage or current signals at the operational condition(s) with a beginning of life (BOL) voltage-current relationship at the same or substantially the same operational condition(s) to obtain a voltage-current comparison at the operational condition(s). The method also includes estimating an SoH parameter in response to the voltage-current comparison.

Abstract: Fuel cell alloy bipolar plates. The alloys may be used as a coating or bulk material. The alloys and metallic glasses may be particularly suitable for proton-exchange membrane fuel cells because of they may exhibit reduced weights and/or better corrosion resistance. The alloys may include any of the following AlxCuyTiz, AlxFeyNiz, AlxMnyNiz, AlxNiyTiz, CuxFeyTiz, CuxNiyTiz, AlxFeySiz, AlxMnySiz, AlxNiySiz, NixSiyTiz, and CxFeySiz. The alloys or metallic glass may be doped with various dopants to improve glass forming ability, mechanical strength, ductility, electrical or thermal conductivities, hydrophobicity, and/or corrosion resistance.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a membrane, a catalyzed electrode facing the membrane, the electrode including a magnetic electrocatalyst in contact with an ionomer, an electromagnet, and a controller programmed to activate the electromagnet to form an oscillating magnetic field arranged to selectively increase temperature of the magnetic electrocatalyst, based on one or more conditions, to increase kinetics of a reaction at the catalyzed electrode or remove water from the electrode.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell degradation monitoring method. The method includes applying first and second bias potentials to an electrode of an electrochemical cell during an operating state thereof. The method further includes measuring impedance spectra of the electrode of the electrochemical cell during the operating state biased to the first and second bias potentials. The method also includes determining a deviation in the impedance spectra at the first and second bias potentials. The method determines a degradation state of the electrode of the electrochemical cell in response to the deviation in the impedance spectra at the first and second bias potentials of the electrode of the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: A method of monitoring and replacing fuel cells within a fuel cell stack assembly. The method includes measuring one or more operating conditions of a fuel cell within the fuel cell stack assembly. The method includes determining, using a processor, a state of health of the fuel cell based at least in part on the one or more operating conditions. The method includes detaching the fuel cell from an adjacent cell within the fuel cell stack assembly by removing a first electrically-conducing mating matrix associated with a first endplate of the fuel cell from a second electrically-conducing mating matrix associated with a second endplate of the adjacent cell. The method includes attaching a replacement fuel cell by mating a third electrically-conducing mating matrix associated with a third endplate of the replacement fuel cell with a fourth electrically-conducing mating matrix associated with a fourth endplate of the adjacent cell.

Abstract: An electrochemical method for state of degradation estimation. The method includes extracting capacitances from electrodes of a fuel cell stack at a bias potential at two or more aging characteristics during a fuel cell stack operation condition to obtain extracted capacitance signals. The method further includes determining a state of degradation of a component of the fuel cell stack in response to the extracted capacitances.

Abstract: Methods for removing contaminants from a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell or fuel cell stack are provided. The methods are conducted without the need for disassembly of the cell or stack, and can be performed as throughout the lifetime of the cell or stack for prevention of performance loss. The methods include introducing an acidic solution to a first electrode side of a membrane electrode assembly and hydrogen gas to a second electrode side of the membrane electrode assembly and applying a hydrogen pumping current across. Thereafter, the acidic solution is removed by supplying reactant gases to the electrodes at relative humidity above saturation.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell catalyst state of health monitoring device. The device includes a first magnetic device adjacent a first side of a first catalyst material associated with a first electrode. The device further includes a second magnetic device adjacent a second side of the first catalyst material. The first or second magnetic device is configured to generate a magnetic field. The other of the first and second magnetic devices is configured to receive a magnetic response from the first catalyst material. The device also includes a controller configured to receive the magnetic response and to determine magnetic response data of the first catalyst material in response to the magnetic response. The magnetic response data is indicative of a state of health.

Abstract: An electrochemical state of health (SoH) estimating method. The method includes receiving in-operation voltage and/or current signals from a fuel cell stack during operation of the fuel cell stack at one or more operational condition(s). The method further includes comparing an in-operation voltage-current relationship based on the in-operation voltage or current signals at the operational condition(s) with a beginning of life (BOL) voltage-current relationship at the same or substantially the same operational condition(s) to obtain a voltage-current comparison at the operational condition(s). The method also includes estimating an SoH parameter in response to the voltage-current comparison.

Abstract: A fuel cell (e.g., a proton exchange membrane fuel cell). The fuel cell includes a cathode electrode, an anode electrode having an anode catalyst layer, and a membrane extending between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode. The anode catalyst layer has a capacitance of greater than 0.1 F/cm2 in a potential window for operation of the fuel cell of ?0.1 to 1.2 V versus a reversible hydrogen potential. The capacitance of the anode catalyst layer mitigates degradation of the cathode electrode during an air-air start of the fuel cell.

Abstract: A computational method for determining a location and an amount of a transition metal M in surface facets of a Pt—M alloy using a density functional theory includes receiving a particle size and a surface facet distribution of the Pt—M alloy and a total concentration of M in the Pt—M alloy; calculating a total number of M atoms in the Pt—M alloy based on the particle size and the surface facet distribution of the Pt—M alloy and the total concentration of M in the Pt—M alloy; and predicting a mixing energy between Pt and at least one of the total number of M atoms in a subsurface layer of each of the surface facets of the Pt—M alloy when Pt is mixed with the at least one of the total number of M atoms.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell (e.g., a fuel cell) includes an anode layer, a cathode layer, and an electrolyte membrane layer disposed between and spacing apart the anode layer and the cathode layer. The electrochemical cell further includes a functional layer disposed at an interface between the cathode layer and the electrode membrane layer. The functional layer includes a composition including a carbon material, an ionomer material, and optionally an amount of catalyst material.

Abstract: A desalination battery includes a working intercalation electrode in a first compartment, a counter intercalation electrode in a second compartment, both compartments including saline water solution with an elevated concentration of dissolved salts, an ion exchange membrane arranged between the compartments, a voltage source arranged to supply voltage to the electrodes, and a sacrificial compound configured to neutralize charge within the first compartment at a predetermined voltage while being consumed by oxidation or reduction reactions upon an activation of the working electrode.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte water electrolyzer (PEWE). The PEWE includes a cathode catalyst layer, an anode catalyst layer, and a polymer electrolyte membrane between and separating the anode catalyst layer and the cathode catalyst layer. The PEWE further includes a blocking layer disposed between the cathode catalyst layer and configured to resist unwanted diffusion of ions or molecules through the polymer electrolyte water electrolyzer.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell degradation monitoring method. The method includes applying first and second bias potentials to an electrode of an electrochemical cell during an operating state thereof. The method further includes measuring impedance spectra of the electrode of the electrochemical cell during the operating state biased to the first and second bias potentials. The method also includes determining a deviation in the impedance spectra at the first and second bias potentials. The method determines a degradation state of the electrode of the electrochemical cell in response to the deviation in the impedance spectra at the first and second bias potentials of the electrode of the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: A desalination battery cell includes a first compartment separated by an anion exchange membrane from a second compartment, each of the first and second compartments containing a saline water solution having a concentration of dissolved salts c1 and first and second intercalation host electrodes, respectively, in fluid communication with the solution, a voltage source supplying electric current to the first and second intercalation host electrodes to release cations into the solution, and a controller programmed to adjust an amount of the electric current being supplied to change direction of anions in the solution passing through the anion exchange membrane between the compartments such that the first and second compartments alternately collect and disperse salt from the solution and release desalinated water solution having a concentration c2 of dissolved salts and a brine solution having a concentration c3 of dissolved salts such that c3>C1>C2.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte water electrolyzer (PEWE). The PEWE includes a cathode catalyst layer, an anode catalyst layer, and a polymer electrolyte membrane between and separating the anode catalyst layer and the cathode catalyst layer. The PEWE further includes a first blocking layer and/or a second blocking layer. The first blocking layer is disposed between the cathode catalyst layer and configured to resist diffusion of unwanted ions or molecules through the polymer electrolyte membrane. The second blocking layer is disposed between the anode catalyst layer and is configured to resist diffusion of unwanted ions or molecules through the polymer electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a membrane, a catalyzed electrode facing the membrane, the electrode including a magnetic electrocatalyst in contact with an ionomer, an electromagnet, and a controller programmed to activate the electromagnet to form an oscillating magnetic field arranged to selectively increase temperature of the magnetic electrocatalyst, based on one or more conditions, to increase kinetics of a reaction at the catalyzed electrode or remove water from the electrode.

Abstract: Fuel cell alloy bipolar plates. The alloys may be used as a coating or bulk material. The alloys and metallic glasses may be particularly suitable for proton-exchange membrane fuel cells because of they may exhibit reduced weights and/or better corrosion resistance. The alloys may include any of the following AlxCuyTiz, AlxFeyNiz, AlxMnyNiz, AlxNiyTiz, CuxFeyTiz, CuxNiyTiz, AlxFeySiz, AlxMnySiz, AlxNiySiz, NixSiyTiz, and CxFeySiz. The alloys or metallic glass may be doped with various dopants to improve glass forming ability, mechanical strength, ductility, electrical or thermal conductivities, hydrophobicity, and/or corrosion resistance.

Abstract: An electrostatic charging air cleaning device. The device includes a pre-charger configured to generate a corona discharge to electrostatically charge particulate matter in an air stream. The device further includes a separator downstream from the pre-charger configured to convey the electrostatically charged particulate matter and formed of an insulative material. The device also includes a collection electrode configured to receive and to absorb the conveyed electrostatically charged particulate matter. The collection electrode includes a substrate material and a coating layer coated onto the substrate material. The coating layer includes a carbon black material and a polymeric binder. The substrate material is a metal plate including mechanical perforations.