This thesis was devised as a fundamental study of the Li-S system by the use of 7Li Magic Angle Spinning (MAS) Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), X-ray Absorption Near-Edge Structure (XANES), and Non-Resonant Inelastic X-ray Scattering (NRIXS). The first part of this thesis is dedicated to the synthesis of solid state linear chain polysulfides in order to use them as reference compounds in the following experiments. 7Li NMR shows that Li2S and Li2S6 exhibit single but different Li environments, while the others stoichiometry targeted consist of a mixture of them. This is the first report of a stable solid-phase intermediate between elemental sulfur (α-S8) and Li2S. The second part of this thesis is based on operando XANES measurements made in the Argonne Photon Source (APS). Linear combination fit (LCF) analyses are performed to interpret the data; and, noticeably, the distinction between short-chain and long-chain polysulfides can be made due to the use of proper reference materials. The results reveal the first detailed observation of typical sulfur redox chemistry upon cycling, showing how sulfur fraction (under-utilization) and sulfide precipitation impact capacity. It also gives new insights into the differences between the charge and discharge mechanisms, resulting in the hysteresis of the cycling profile. Heat-treated PCNS/S exhibits a particular electrochemical signature, which has never explained. Operando XANES measurements at the sulfur K-edge are performed on heat-treated PCNS. Noticeably, the difference in the XANES signatures of the pristine and the recharged state shows the irreversible process that occurs during the first discharges. At last, electrolytes are investigated by the compilation of quantitative physico-chemical parameters on novel class of solvents that are glymes with non-polar groups and acetonitrile (ACN) complexed with LiTFSI. (ACN)2:LiTFSI attracts particular attention because of the particularly low Li2Sn solubility and. Its good electrochemical performance when mixed with 50 vol% HFE. Operando XANES proves the formation of polysulfides in this electrolyte, and the low energy feature evolution shows a more progressive mechanism involved in this electrolyte, which could be linked to the particularly low Li2Sn solubility.

The anisotropic mass transport issues inside a fuel cell membrane have been studied in this thesis using computer modelling. The polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) conductivity of a PEM fuel cell (PEMFC) depends on the hydration state of the hydrophilic charged sites distributed in the pores of the membrane. Water humidification of these charged sites is crucial for sustaining the membrane conductivity and reducing concerning voltage losses of the cell. During the operation of a PEMFC, the transport of humidified inlet gases (fuel/oxidant) is influenced by external design factors such as flow field plate geometry of the gas circulating channels. As a result, there arises a distribution in the mass transport of water inside the membrane electrode assembly. A two-dimensional, cross-the-channel, fuel cell membrane layer mass transport model, developed in this work, helps the study of the impact of factors causing the distribution in the membrane ionic conductivity on ohmic losses.<p>The governing equations of the membrane mathematical model stem from the multicomponent framework of concentrated solution theory. All mass transport driving forces within the vapour and/or liquid equilibrated phases have been accounted in this research. A computational model, based on the finite control volume method, has been implemented using a line-by-line approach for solving the dependent variables of the mass transport equations in the two-dimensional membrane domain. The required boundary conditions for performing the anisotropic mass transport analysis have been obtained from a detailed agglomerate model of the cathode catalyst layer available in the literature.<p>The results obtained using boundary conditions with various flow field plate channel-land configurations revealed that the anisotropic water transport in the cathode half-cell severely affects the ohmic losses within the membrane. A partially humidified vapour equilibrated membrane simulation results show that a smaller channel-land ratio (1:1) sustains a better membrane performance compared to that with a larger one (2:1 or 4:1). Resistance calculations using the computer model revealed that ohmic losses across the membrane also depend on its physical parameters such as thickness. It was observed that the resistance offered by a thinner membrane towards vapour phase mass transport is comparatively lower than that offered by a thicker membrane. A further analysis accounting the practical aspects such as membrane swelling constraints, imposed by design limitations of a fuel cell, revealed that the membrane water content and ionic conductivity are altered with an increase in the compression constraint effects acting upon a free swelling membrane.

Dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is a sub-tropical crop severely affected by exposure to low temperatures during all of its growing stages. Cool spring temperatures and the risk of frost are major limiting factors for the early sowing of dry bean in Saskatchewan. Due to its economic importance; however, it has been introduced to Saskatchewan, but it needs to be made more cold tolerant to further expand acreage. The genes that can contribute some tolerance to low temperature stress in bean are not found within the primary gene pool, which limits the capability of breeders to generate a cultivar with such characteristics. Consequently studies have being done in order to find a possible source of genes that can induce tolerance to low temperature exposure. Phaseolus acutifolius is a relative of the domesticated dry bean and previous hybridizations with it have been successful. It is also known to be tolerant to abiotic stresses such as drought. For this reason the decision was taken to explore the level of resistance to low temperature stress exposure in several P. acutifolius accessions. Using whole plant freezing tests in controlled environment chambers, P. acutifolius W6 15578 was found to be more tolerant to exposure to sub-zero temperatures than were P. vulgaris genotypes. Interspecies hybrids were produced between P. vulgaris NY5-161 and W6 15578 and BC2 plants were produced using embryo rescue. The whole plant freezing test is a destructive method that cannot be used with unique F1 and BC2 genotypes, so an alternative methodology to evaluate the hybrids was explored. An electrolyte leakage test was used and showed similar results to the whole plant freezing test with the parent plant controls. The F1 hybrids had an intermediate tolerance to low temperature stress and the further generations (BC1 and BC2) had a better level of tolerance to this kind of stress than the cultivated parent (NY5-161). This suggests that the genes that confer tolerance to low temperature exposure are being maintained through several generations of backcrossing and that these interspecies hybrids may offer a chance for the development of improved dry bean cultivars for the Saskatchewan environment.

The effects of actively pulsing reactant flow rates into solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells were investigated in this thesis. First, work was conducted to determine the magnitude of voltage response to pulsed reactant flow on a direct hydrogen proton exchange membrane (PEM) cell. The effects of pulsed reactant flow into a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) were then considered. The PEM work showed substantially greater response to pulsed air flow than to pulsed fuel flow. It was found that several parameters affect the magnitude of cell response to active flow control (AFC). Increasing current load, increasing the magnitude of flow oscillation, decreasing the frequency of oscillation, and decreasing the average level of excess reactant supplied were found to maximize both the level of voltage oscillations and the decrease in cell power from steady state performance. Greater response to pulsed oxidant flow is believed to have been observed due to effects brought about by changes in membrane humidity. In contrast, pulsed fuel flow showed the greatest response in the study of DMFC technology. In this case, time averaged cell voltage was found to increase as the time averaged fuel flow rate was reduced. The increase in average cell power is the result of a reduction in methanol crossover; sustainable increases of up to 6% in power output were measured. The parameters found to effect the increase in cell power observed include the frequency of oscillation and the time-averaged NOSfuel. Pulsed air flow on the DMFC did not show any such rise in voltage, supporting the hypothesis that a reduction in methanol crossover is the phenomenon which brings about enhanced performance.

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This thesis is based on theoretical studies of the molecular and electronic structure of solvated ions and molecules. Very detailed information of the system can be obtained from theoretical calculations, but a realistic model is dependent on an accurate computational method. Accurate calculations of core level electronic spectra, and evaluation of the modeling against experiments, are central parts of this work. The main tools used for characterization of the systems are high-level quantum chemistry and molecular dynamics simulations.  Molecular components in solutions are involved in many key processes converting sunlight into chemical or electrical energy. Transition metal complexes, with their pronounced absorption in the visible light region of the electromagnetic spectrum, are core components in various energy conversion applications, and the iodide/triiodide redox couple is a commonly used electrolyte. The local structure of the electronic valence in transition metal complexes and the details of the solvation mechanisms of electrolyte solutions are investigated through the combination of computational modeling and core level spectroscopy. The studies of model systems show that interactions between the solute and solvent are important for the electronic structure, and knowledge of the details in model systems studied can be relevant for energy conversion applications. Furthermore, high-level quantum chemistry has been applied for interpreting time-resolved spectra, where the electronic structure of a metal complex is followed during a photoinduced chemical reaction in solution. With advanced modeling in combination with recent experimental developments, more complex problems than previously addressed can be dissected. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 3: Submitted. Paper 8: Manuscript.</p>

Kyoto University (京都大学) / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(エネルギー科学) / 甲第19090号 / エネ博第314号 / 新制||エネ||64 / 32041 / 京都大学大学院エネルギー科学研究科エネルギー基礎科学専攻 / (主査)教授 萩原 理加, 教授 佐川 尚, 教授 野平 俊之 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当

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This dissertation focuses on the preparation of new Nafion®/ ex-situ silica nanocomposites membranes and the impact of particle size of spherical silica particles on the nanocomposites' properties. To achieve acceptable power production, fuel cell polymer membranes are required with good proton conductivity, water retention, thermal and mechanical stability. However, to avoid poisoning of fuel cell electrocatalysts with CO or other fuel contaminants, they must be operated at temperatures (>100 °C). At these temperatures, fuel cell membranes dehydrate resulting in dramatic decreases in proton conductivity or complete failure as membranes crack due to volumetric stress from water loss. Even if fuel cell is kept in a humidified chamber, increasing temperature will eventually shut the cell down as Nafion®'s bicontinuous structure "dissolves" into a single poorly conducting phase at temperatures above the polymer's Tg.This research provides systematic studies of effects of silica particle size on properties of silica-Nafion® nanocomposites. Results of this study include new insights into requirements for reproducible particle syntheses, practical methods for avoiding silica particle floatation during Nafion® nanocomposite membranes preparation, and a summary of the influence of particle size and functionalization on Nafion® membrane properties. Stober particle syntheses showed high sensitive to ammonia concentration and we discovered that literature procedures' variability is likely due to researchers failure to actually measure ammonia concentration in their aqueous base (which can be 50% or more off). Homogeneous nanocomposite membranes, as determined by AFM and SEM, were successfully prepared using more viscous dispersions. It was observed that nanocomposites membranes with small particles (<50 nm) showed significant increases in proton conductivity at temperatures above 80 °C. Surface modification of the silica particles improved the proton conductivity at 80 °C. Enhancement on proton conductivity was more pronounced with small modified particles at temperatures < 80 °C but unmodified particles were better than modified particles at temperatures >80 °C. Small, unmodified particles led to enhanced thermal stability of the Nafion® ionic domain, however, surface modification did not result in any thermal stability enhancement. Contrary to the expected, mechanical properties of the Nafion® were degraded by adding the silica particles, especially with smaller particles (<50nm).