Master Thesis Transient Behavior Observation of a PEM Ely Cell with Reference Electrodes

Your tasks

PEM (proton exchange membrane) electrolysers are pivotal for global decarbonization, efficiently converting renewable electricity into green hydrogen. This carbon-free fuel is essential for sustainable energy transitions, offering a versatile solution for industry, transport, and power, thereby mitigating climate change and fostering environmental health. In recent years the understanding of underlying mechanisms has continuously improved leading to a well understanding of stationary conditions. However, transient behavior is yet not well investigated and remain a crucial topic, as they can cause harmful conditions for materials. Special detail come to the half-cell potentials, as they play a pivotal role for catalyst degradation and cross-over of gases and the contribution of anodic and cathodic overpotentials are not attributable with normal cell settings.

• During your thesis, you will deal with the investigation of half-cell potentials in a differential PEM electrolyze cell. A new cell design was created with embedded reference electrodes to measure half-cell potentials during transient experiments.
• Your work will include setting up the experimental testbench (physically as well as software) with an automated data pipeline to our delta lake.
• You will set up operation scripts to reliably run experiments.
• Using Python you will create a cloud-based evaluation tool.
• Furthermore, you will run and evaluate transient experiments, analyze results and compare them with literature.
• Optionally, you will establish advanced characterization tools (like EIS, RALO or EFM) and automated cross checks with CSM to compare experiment with simulation.

Your profile

• Education: Master studies in the field of Engineering, Electrochemistry, Renewable Energies, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science or comparable
• Experience and Knowledge: withPython, data bricks, electrolysis and data evaluation
• Personality and Working Practice: you excel at independently grasping complex facts, eagerly structuring your learning, and maintaining an organized overview
• Languages: fluent in English