Electrochemistry Applications
Fuel Cells
Gamry provides several systems for fuel cell development and testing. We also include tools designed to improve data analysis and workup.
Gamry Advantages
Gamry Instruments has a large variety of potentiostats/galvanostats for the testing of electrolyzers. We have also partnered with Kolibrik.net to expand our product line to provide a larger range of options for higher power devices. All of these potentiostats/galvanostats are capable of performing electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, a very well known technique for analyzing systems during operation. Additionally, all of the potentiostats/galvanostats are isolated from Earth ground, making measurements on grounded cells (like electrolyzers!) very easy.
The standard product lineup covers material testing all the way up to engineering studies. Voltages can range from 5V up to 1000V and maximum currents from 600mA to 2000A. We even have capabilities to monitor both half cells simultaneously in a single cell configuration or we have the ability to monitor up to 1000 channels all at once.
Nowhere else will you find this kind of flexibility in a product lineup. Gamry and Kolibrik have you covered.
Gamry Expertise
Gamry has been at the forefront of affordable, high performance EIS measurements for more than 25 years. We have also been making floating instruments since our inception. We understand how difficult these measurements can be and design our instruments and provide you with application notes to help users make them as well as possible.
When it comes to fuel cells, most of the basic electrochemical measurements are fairly simple. The exception to this is getting good EIS data on working cells/stacks, particularly on systems that operate at high currents. In the āGamry Systemsā section, we detail several ways to perform these tests. One involves a shared path for AC and DC current and the other involves isolated AC and DC loops that sum up across the fuel cell. In both of these tests, but particularly the first, it may be advisable to use a shunt.
A shunt is a low but known impedance device that is sometimes used for measuring high currents. Placing a 0.1 mĪ© shunt after a fuel cell which operates at 100 A will lead to a 10 mV drop, which can be precisely (and accurately) measured. It is much easier to measure 10 mV with precision than it is to measure 100 A. The addition of a shunt to a fuel cell/electronic load path allows a precise measure of the current going through the system. When selecting a shunt to use, try to target one that will lead to a total voltage drop of ~10 mV when the fuel cell is at maximum operating current.
Recommended Setup
Recommended Fuel Cell Systems
Many Gamry systems can meet the needs of a fuel cell researcher. The Interface 1010E, with currents up to 1 A, is a great system for studying materials or smaller setups. The Interface 5000E is a great single cell system that can provide up to 5A @ 6 V. The Interface 5000E can also measure both half cells simultaneously in a three-electrode system. Our Reference 3000/3000AE along with the Reference 30K Booster for extra current is an ideal solution for fuel cells that operate up to 30 A total current, and up to 20 V in the stack. It is capable of running both DC and AC testing. Both the Interface line and Reference line of instruments can be configured into bipotentiostat setups for running RRDE experiments.
For even higher currents, Gamry has partnered with Kolibrik.net* to provide capabilities up to 100A or more! Several Kolibrik potentiostats/galvanostats exist for single cells and short stacks. There are standard systems for 5V/20A, 5V/50A, 5V/100A, 10V/20A, and 10V/50A. For large systems, up to 1000V and 2000A with up to 1000 channels, Kolibrik has the MegaEIS system.
We also have the LPI1010 (combined with an Interface 1010E) that interfaces with specific electronic loads or power supplies to provide higher voltages or higher currents (or both). The LPI1010 can be very useful when you need to test a variety of configurations.
So, no matter what your power needs, from small scale materials studies to scale-up engineering studies, we have a solution for you. Give us a call to find out more.
*Gamry is able to provide Kolibrik.net in North America, China, Italy, Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. Other countries should contact Kolibrik directly.