Membranes and Electrochemical Cells

Radiation grafted proton conducting membrane

Vision & Mission

Our vision is to push boundaries in science and technology of ion-conducting membranes and electrochemical cells for environmentally friendly, efficient, and economic energy conversion devices.

Mission:

- Advance science and engineering of membranes and electrochemical cells 
for energy applications
- Strive towards a sustainable future
- Develop technology, foster implementation
- Inspire the young generation
- Create visibility and impact

60Co gamma source

We use unique tools to study the interaction of membrane constituents with radicals to improve our understanding of the chemical degradation of membranes, both proton exchange membranes (PEMs) and alkaline anion exchange membranes (AEMs), and develop novel antioxidant strategies. The image shows the 60Co gamma source at PSI, which is used for continuous water radiolysis studies.

Pt-CZO

We synthesize and engineer new membranes and membrane additives for next generation H2 fuel cells and water electrolyzers. One focus topic is the use of non-fluorinated hydrocarbon membranes for fuel cells, where we collaborate with other world-renowned academic partners and aim to characterize the most-promising chemistries. In the area of water electrolyzers, we focus on currently established perfluorinated membranes and seek to engineer them for improved functionality in terms of conversion efficiency and durability.

N1D single cell

A key focus of the group is the in-situ characterization of membranes in single cells to understand performance characteristics and obtain durability metrics. The laboratory operates a number of commercial and in-house built testbenches for characterization of fuel cells, water and CO2 electrolyzers. The customized cell teststands allow us to adapt their functionalities to the particular research topics under investigation. We typically use custom-built single cell hardware.

M&EC Day March 2024

Current group members:

  • Lorenz Gubler, Head
  • Torben Saatkamp, Scientist
  • Zarina Turtayeva, Postdoctoral Researcher
  • Ivan Zelocualtecatl Montiel, Postdoctoral Researcher
  • Zheyu Zhang, PhD Student
  • Zongyi Han, PhD Student
  • Jiaxin Lu, PhD Student
  • Qingxin Zhang, PhD Student
  • Eliot Petitdemange, PhD Student 
  • Yannick Lüthi, Apprentice

PhD student funded by Johnson Matthey (UK) on the topic of 'Hydrocarbon fuel cell proton exchange membranes (PEMs):  chemical durability and testing protocols'

There are no open positions at the moment.

Furthermore, we have regular openings for student's projects in different areas: fuel cells, electrolyzers, redox flow cells on topics ranging from materials synthesis and characterization to test system design and implementation.

ProjectDescriptionDurationContact
AntioxAEMDeciphering and Mitigation of Radical Induced
Damage in Alkaline Anion Conducting Ionomers for Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers

Swiss National Science Foundation		2023-2027Lorenz Gubler
HCmemHydrocarbon Fuel Cell Proton Exchange Membranes (PEMs):  Chemical Durability and Testing Protocols

Johnson Matthey (UK)		2023-2027Lorenz Gubler
ELYMEMNew materials for electrolysis cells and next generation electrochemical water splitting devices
(collaboration with the group Chemical Processes and Materials - CPM at PSI)

Swiss Federal Office of Energy		2025-2028Lorenz Gubler
IndustryProjects funded by industrial partners, subject to confidentiality Lorenz Gubler

A complete publication list can be found on Scopus.

 

  • Aliyah K, Appel C, Lazaridis T, Prehal C, Ammann M, Xu L, et al.
    Operando scanning small-/wide-angle X-ray scattering for polymer electrolyte fuel cells: investigation of catalyst layer saturation and membrane hydration- capabilities and challenges
    ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. 2024; 16: 25938-25952. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.3c11173
    DORA PSI
  • Barros Á, Aranzabe E, Artetxe B, Duburg JC, Gubler L, Gutiérrez-Zorrilla JM, et al.
    Polyoxometalate-based symmetric redox flow batteries: performance in mild aqueous media
    ACS Applied Energy Materials. 2024; 7(9): 3729-3739. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaem.4c00085
    DORA PSI
  • Carreón Ruiz ER, Malamud F, Lee J, Burca G, Trabesinger S, Gubler L, et al.
    Operando lateral state-of-charge inhomogeneity mapping via wavelength-resolved neutron imaging
    Materials Today Energy. 2024; 46: 101710 (10 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtener.2024.101710
    DORA PSI
  • Duburg JC, Chen B, Holdcroft S, Schmidt TJ, Gubler L
    Design of polybenzimidazolium membranes for use in vanadium redox flow batteries
    Journal of Materials Chemistry A. 2024; 12(11): 6387-6398. https://doi.org/10.1039/d3ta07212f
    DORA PSI
  • Hampson E, Duburg JC, Casella J, Schmidt TJ, Gubler L
    A simple approach to balancing conductivity and capacity fade in vanadium redox flow batteries by the tunable pretreatment of polybenzimidazole membranes
    Chemical Engineering Journal. 2024; 485: 149930 (11 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.149930
    DORA PSI
  • Muroyama AP, Abu-Arja D, Rogerio BK, Masiello D, Winzely M, Gubler L
    Performance enhancement of a membrane electrochemical cell for CO2 capture
    Journal of the Electrochemical Society. 2024; 171(1): 013504 (7 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1149/1945-7111/ad1acf
    DORA PSI
  • Nemeth T, Han Z, Gubler L
    High-performance fluorine-lean thin aromatic hydrocarbon membranes based on polyvinylidene fluoride for hydrogen fuel cells
    Membranes. 2024; 14(12): 263 (12 pp.). https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes14120263
    DORA PSI
  • Schuler T, Weber CC, Wrubel JA, Gubler L, Pivovar B, Büchi FN, et al.
    Ultrathin microporous transport layers: implications for low catalyst loadings, thin membranes, and high current density operation for proton exchange membrane electrolysis
    Advanced Energy Materials. 2024; 14(7): 2302786 (12 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202302786
    DORA PSI
  • Weber CC, De Angelis S, Meinert R, Appel C, Holler M, Guizar-Sicairos M, et al.
    Microporous transport layers facilitating low iridium loadings in polymer electrolyte water electrolysis
    EES Catalysis. 2024; 2(2): 585-602. https://doi.org/10.1039/d3ey00279a
    DORA PSI
  • Zhang Z, Baudy A, Testino A, Gubler L
    Cathode catalyst layer design in PEM water electrolysis toward reduced Pt loading and hydrogen crossover
    ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. 2024; 16(18): 23265-23277. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.4c01827
    DORA PSI
  • Aliyah K, Prehal C, Diercks JS, Diklić N, Xu L, Ünsal S, et al.
    Quantification of PEFC catalyst layer saturation via in silico, ex situ, and in situ small-angle X-ray scattering
    ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. 2023; 15(22): 26538-26553. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.3c00420
    DORA PSI
  • Carreon Ruiz ER, Lee J, Strobl M, Stalder N, Burca G, Gubler L, et al.
    Revealing the impact of temperature in battery electrolytes via wavelength-resolved neutron imaging
    Science Advances. 2023; 9(39): eadi0586 (12 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adi0586
    DORA PSI
  • Carreón Ruiz ER, Stalder N, Lee J, Gubler L, Boillat P
    Prospects of spectroscopic neutron imaging: optimizing experimental setups in battery electrolyte research
    Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. 2023; 25(36): 24993-25007. https://doi.org/10.1039/d3cp03434h
    DORA PSI
  • Carreón Ruiz ER, Lee J, Márquez Damián JI, Strobl M, Burca G, Woracek R, et al.
    Spectroscopic neutron imaging for resolving hydrogen dynamics changes in battery electrolytes
    Materials Today Advances. 2023; 19: 100405 (6 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtadv.2023.100405
    DORA PSI
  • Soon WL, Peydayesh M, de Wild T, Donat F, Saran R, Müller CR, et al.
    Renewable energy from livestock waste valorization: amyloid-based feather keratin fuel cells
    ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. 2023; 15(40): 47049-47057. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.3c10218
    DORA PSI
  • Weber CC, Wrubel JA, Gubler L, Bender G, De Angelis S, Büchi FN
    How the porous transport layer interface affects catalyst utilization and performance in polymer electrolyte water electrolysis
    ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. 2023; 15(29): 34750-34763. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.3c04151
    DORA PSI
  • Yazili D, Marini E, Saatkamp T, Münchinger A, de Wild T, Gubler L, et al.
    Sulfonated poly(phenylene sulfone) blend membranes finding their way into proton exchange membrane fuel cells
    Journal of Power Sources. 2023; 563: 232791 (10 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2023.232791
    DORA PSI
  • de Wild T, Wurm J, Becker P, Günther D, Nauser T, Schmidt TJ, et al.
    A nature-inspired antioxidant strategy based on porphyrin for aromatic hydrocarbon containing fuel cell membranes**
    ChemSusChem. 2023; 16(21): e202300775 (13 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.202300775
    DORA PSI
  • de Wild T, Nemeth T, Becker P, Günther D, Nauser T, Schmidt TJ, et al.
    Repair of aromatic hydrocarbon-based membranes tested under accelerated fuel cell conditions
    Journal of Power Sources. 2023; 560: 232525 (13 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2022.232525
    DORA PSI