Open Access

The state-of-the-art electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) calculations have not yet started from fully multi-dimensional modeling. For a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) with long flow channel, the impedance plot shows a multi-arc characteristic and some impedance arcs could merge. By using a step excitation/Fourier transform algorithm, an EIS simulation is implemented for the first time based on the full 2D PEMFC model presented in the first part of this work. All the dominant transient behaviors are able to be captured. A novel methodology called ‘configuration of system dynamics’, which is suitable for any electrochemical system, is then developed to resolve the physical meaning of the impedance spectra. In addition to the high-frequency arc due to charge transfer, the Nyquist plots contain additional medium/low-frequency arcs due to mass transfer in the diffusion layers and along the channel, as well as a low-frequency arc resulting from water transport in the membrane. In some case, the impedance spectra appear partly inductive due to water transport, which demonstrates the complexity of the water management of PEMFCs and the necessity of physics-based calculations.

The formation and analysis of ten microporous triazolyl isophthalate based MOFs, including nine isomorphous and one isostructural compound is presented. The compounds 1 M – 3 M with the general formula [ M ( R 1 - R 2 - trz - ia ) ] ∞ 3 ·x H 2 O (M 2+ = Co 2+ , Cu 2+ , Zn 2+ , Cd 2+ ; R 1 = H, Me; R 2 = 2py, 2pym, prz (2py = 2-pyridinyle; 2pym = 2-pyrimidinyle; prz = pyrazinyle)) crystallize with rtl topology. They are available as single crystals and also easily accessible in a multi-gram scale via refluxing the metal salts and the protonated ligands in a solvent. Their isomorphous structures facilitate the synthesis of heteronuclear MOFs; in case of 2 M , Co 2+ ions could be gradually substituted by Cu 2+ ions. The Co 2+ :Cu 2+ ratios were determined by ICP-OES spectroscopy, the distribution of Co 2+ and Cu 2+ in the crystalline samples are investigated by SEM-EDX analysis leading to the conclusions that Cu 2+ is more favorably incorporated into the framework compared to Co 2+ and, moreover, that the distribution of the two metal ions between the crystals and within the crystals is inhomogeneous if the crystals were grown slowly. The various compositions of the heteronuclear materials lead to different colors and the sorption properties for CO 2 and N 2 are dependent on the integrated metal ions.

The current methods used to assess the energy performance of ventilation devices do not consider all the aspects necessary for a comprehensive evaluation of decentralised ventilation concepts and can only be partially adapted to their needs. In order to improve the energy evaluation and to ensure the comparability of different systems, a calorimetric method was developed and implemented in test facilities for the evaluation of two decentralised devices: one equipped with a recuperative counter flow heat exchanger and one with a regenerative heat exchanger. This method, based on direct measurements of the heating load in an insulated test room, includes the effect of the electrical consumption of the fans on the energy performance of the ventilation devices. The calorimetric evaluation method was extended to a seasonal evaluation on the basis of a heating-degree-day method implemented for a warm, a cool and a moderate location in Europe: Athens, Strasbourg and Copenhagen. All the results are above 50% efficiency for both devices, even in Athens where the use of heat recovery ventilation is not usual.