We developed a method, by combining electrochemical and electrokinetic streaming current techniques to study ion distribution and ionic conductivity in the diffuse part of electrochemical double layer (EDL) of a metal-electrolyte interface, when potential is applied on the metal by a potentiostat. We applied this method to an electrochemically clean polycrystalline gold (poly Au)-electrolyte interface and measured zeta potential for various applied potentials, pH, and concentration of the electrolyte. Specific adsorption of chloride ions on poly Au was studied by comparing measurements of zeta potential in KCl and KClO4 electrolytes. In absence of specific adsorption, zeta potential was found to increase linearly with applied potential, having slope of 0.04–0.06. When Cl− adsorption occurs, zeta potential changes the sign from positive to negative value at ∼750 mV vs Ag/AgCl applied potential. Complementary cyclic voltammetry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies were conducted to determine a degree of chloride ion adsorption on a poly Au. A correlation was observed between the applied potential at which zeta potential is zero and potential of zero charge for poly Au. Ion-distribution and ionic conductivity in the diffuse layer were calculated from the measured zeta potential data using nonlinear Poisson-Boltzmann distribution.

At an electrified interface of metal and electrolyte, ion concentration in the diffuse layer is different from the bulk and is impacted by metal charge. The double-layer structure can significantly enhance local ionic conductivity. Understanding the conductivity enhancement with conventional electrochemical measurements is challenging; however, electrokinetic experiments can be more useful in probing local ionic conductivities. We used streaming-current experiments for a range of pH values to measure ζ-potential at metal–electrolyte interfaces. We extend the method by incorporating a three-electrode electrochemical cell where the potential of the metal can be varied. By using a range of applied potentials between −200 and 800 mV (vs standard hydrogen electrode), we explored how surface charging of Au electrode affects ζ-potential. An inflection point is observed on the plot of ζ-potential against applied potential, and this point is believed to be a potential of zero charge of the electrode. Using the Gouy–Chapman–Stern–Grahame model, we correlate measured ζ-potential values to metal surface charge and calculate ionic distribution and conductivity within the microchannel. Finally, ionic conductivity is calculated as a function of metal surface charge, and as expected, Gouy–Chapman theory shows a parabolic relationship.

A mechanistic understanding of carbon corrosion in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFC) is critical to design durable catalyst layers. Uncontrolled startup and shutdown of PEFCs cause electrochemical oxidation of carbon,...

Gas diffusion layers (GDLs) are porous carbonaceous layers that are widely used in energy conversion and storage devices. Simulation of water transport through GDLs, in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC), for example, typically uses goniometer-measured external contact angles. Until now, there is no well-developed method to obtain contact angles inside the GDLs. AlRatrout et al. developed an open-source code to compute local contact angles at triple-phase contact points from segmented micro-X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT) images of porous rocks. We apply it, for the first time, to micro-X-ray CT images of water-filled commercial GDLs and compute local contact angles at internal GDL fiber−water−air triple-phase contact points. We obtain a state of mixed wettability (hydrophilic and hydrophobic) inside all GDL samples, with a broad range of contact angles, instead of one hydrophobic contact angle found from goniometer experiments. Lattice Boltzmann water transport simulations performed with these distributed contact angles produce results that are in better agreement with experimental data. We also obtain high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) data of the GDL samples and find that the concentration of oxide species correlates strongly with the measured hydrophilicity. The method introduced here can help rationally design GDLs and directly quantify their internal surface wettability that is needed for accurate predictions of their functionality in energy technology devices.