JP7501851B2 - Analysis system and analysis method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an analysis system and an analysis method.

A solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell has a membrane electrode assembly in which a pair of electrodes are arranged on either side of an electrolyte membrane. The membrane electrode assembly generates electricity by the reaction of hydrogen gas and oxygen gas, and the electrodes contain, for example, platinum as a catalyst for the reaction.

Platinum can dissolve and migrate to the electrolyte membrane. Because it precipitates in a band-like shape within the electrolyte membrane, such platinum aggregation structures are called platinum bands. Platinum that migrates to the electrolyte membrane affects the power generation performance and durability of fuel cells, so measures to prevent the formation of platinum bands have been studied (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2015-228292 A

Because the membrane electrode assembly is sealed by being sandwiched between separators on both sides, it is not possible to observe the platinum bands that occur in the internal electrolyte membrane from outside the fuel cell. For this reason, the fuel cell has been disassembled, and the membrane electrode assembly has been removed and cut to analyze the electrolyte membrane, but for more detailed analysis, it is desirable to measure the state of the electrolyte membrane in real time during power generation.

The purpose of the present invention is to analyze the metals or metal compounds contained inside a fuel cell from outside the fuel cell.

An analysis system (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention is an analysis system (100) for a fuel cell (10) comprising an electrolyte membrane (1) and a pair of electrodes (2) on either side of the electrolyte membrane (1), and comprises a spectrometer (30) that irradiates the electrolyte membrane (1) or the electrodes (2) with laser light from outside the fuel cell (10) and measures the intensity of the light emitted by the electrolyte membrane (1) or the electrodes (2), and a diagnostic device (50) that analyzes the metals or metal compounds contained in the electrolyte membrane (1) or the electrodes (2) based on the measurement results of the spectrometer (30).

Another aspect of the present invention is an analysis method for a fuel cell (10) having an electrolyte membrane (1) and a pair of electrodes (2) on both sides of the electrolyte membrane (1), and includes the steps of irradiating the electrolyte membrane (1) or the electrodes (2) with laser light using a spectrometer (30) to measure the intensity of the light emitted by the electrolyte membrane (1) or the electrodes (2), and analyzing the metals or metal compounds contained in the electrolyte membrane (1) or the electrodes (2) based on the measurement results of the spectrometer (30).

The present invention makes it possible to analyze the metals or metal compounds contained inside the fuel cell from outside the fuel cell.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of an analysis system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fuel cell. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a cell. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a CARS spectrometer. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a CARS spectrometer in which the phase matching condition can be easily adjusted. 1 is a graph showing an example of a profile showing the correlation between the output voltage of a fuel cell and the intensity of light originating from water in an electrolyte membrane.

Below, an embodiment of the analysis system and analysis method of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The configuration described below is one example (representative example) of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this configuration.

In the following embodiment, an example of analyzing a fuel cell that is installed in a vehicle and supplies the vehicle's driving power will be described, but the present invention can also be applied to fuel cells in power generation systems for other moving objects such as trains, stationary power generation systems, and the like, in addition to power supply in vehicles.

FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of an analysis system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
1, the analysis system 100 includes a spectrometer 30 and a diagnostic device 50. The analysis system 100 of this embodiment is mounted on a vehicle 200 together with a fuel cell 10 to be analyzed and its control device 60.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the fuel cell 10.
As shown in FIG. 2, the fuel cell 10 includes a stack 10a and a casing 10b.
The stack 10a is surrounded by a casing 10b and sealed therewith.

The stack 10a consists of multiple plate-like cells 11 stacked in a row. The periphery of the cells 11 is covered and sealed by sealing rubber 12.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of the cell 11.
3, the cell 11 includes a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) 3, a pair of separators 4, and a subgasket 5. The MEA 3 includes an electrolyte membrane 1 and a pair of electrodes 2. The pair of electrodes 2 and the pair of separators 4 are arranged to sandwich the electrolyte membrane 1, and the electrodes 2 and the separators 4 are laminated on both sides of the electrolyte membrane 1, respectively.

The electrolyte membrane 1, the electrode 2, and the separator 4 are stacked in the z direction. The peripheral portions of the electrolyte membrane 1 and the electrode 2 that are not covered by the separator 4 are covered and sealed by the sealing rubber 12.

In the stack 10a, multiple cells 11 are stacked in the z direction, which is the same as the stacking direction of the electrolyte membrane 1, electrodes 2, and separators 4. The x and y directions are directions that are perpendicular to the z direction within the plane of the cell 11.

The electrolyte membrane 1 is an ion-conductive polymer electrolyte membrane. Examples of the electrolyte membrane 1 include perfluorosulfonic acid polymers such as Nafion (registered trademark) and Aquivion (registered trademark); aromatic polymers such as sulfonated polyether ether ketone (SPEEK) and sulfonated polyimide; and aliphatic polymers such as polyvinyl sulfonic acid and polyvinyl phosphoric acid.

From the viewpoint of improving durability, the electrolyte membrane 1 may be a composite membrane in which a porous substrate 1a is impregnated with a polymer electrolyte. The porous substrate 1a is not particularly limited as long as it can support the polymer electrolyte, and a membrane in the form of a porous, woven, nonwoven, or fibril can be used. The material of the porous substrate 1a is also not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of increasing ion conductivity, the above-mentioned polymer electrolyte can be used. Among them, fluorine-based polymers such as polytetrafluoroethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer, and polychlorotrifluoroethylene have excellent strength and shape stability.

Of the pair of electrodes 2, one electrode 2 is an anode, also called a fuel electrode. The other electrode 2 is a cathode, also called an air electrode. Hydrogen gas is supplied to the anode as a fuel gas, and oxygen gas or air containing oxygen gas is supplied to the cathode.

Hydrogen gas (H ₂ ) is supplied to the anode, and a reaction occurs in which electrons (e ^- ) and protons (H ⁺ ) are generated from the hydrogen gas (H ₂ ). The electrons move to the cathode via an external circuit (not shown). This movement of electrons generates a current in the external circuit. The protons move to the cathode via the electrolyte membrane 1.

Oxygen gas (O ₂ ) is supplied to the cathode, and oxygen ions (O ₂ ^- ) are generated by electrons transferred from an external circuit. The oxygen ions combine with protons (2H ⁺ ) transferred from the electrolyte membrane 1 to become water (H ₂ O).

The electrode 2 includes a catalyst layer 21. In this embodiment, the electrode 2 further includes a gas diffusion layer 22 to improve the diffusibility of the fuel gas.

The catalyst layer 21 promotes the reaction between hydrogen gas and oxygen gas by the catalyst. The catalyst layer 21 includes a catalyst, a carrier that supports the catalyst, and an ionomer that coats the catalyst and the carrier.
Examples of the catalyst include metals such as platinum (Pt), ruthenium (Ru), iridium (Ir), rhodium (Rh), palladium (Pd), cobalt (Co), and tungsten (W), as well as mixtures and alloys of these metals. Among these, platinum, mixtures and alloys containing platinum are preferred from the viewpoints of catalytic activity, resistance to poisoning by carbon monoxide, heat resistance, and the like.

Examples of the carrier include mesoporous carbon and conductive metal compounds such as titanium oxide. Mesoporous carbon is preferred from the viewpoints of good dispersibility, large surface area, and little particle growth at high temperatures even when a large amount of catalyst is supported.
As the ionomer, an ion-conductive polymer electrolyte similar to that of the electrolyte membrane 1 can be used.

The gas diffusion layer 22 can uniformly diffuse the supplied fuel gas into the catalyst layer 21. As the gas diffusion layer 22, for example, a porous fiber sheet such as carbon fiber having electrical conductivity, gas permeability, and gas diffusion properties, as well as a metal plate such as foamed metal or expanded metal can be used.

The separator 4 is a plate with multiple ribs 4b on its surface, and is also called a bipolar plate. Each rib 4b creates a recess 4a on the surface of the separator 4. The recess 4a forms a flow path for the fuel gas between the separator 4 and the MEA 3. This flow path also serves as a drain for water produced by the reaction of the fuel gas.

Materials for the separator 4 include, for example, carbon and metals such as stainless steel.

The subgasket 5 is a film or plate that surrounds the outer periphery of the MEA 3 and functions as a support for the MEA 3. The material of the subgasket 5 can be a resin with low electrical conductivity. There are no particular limitations on the resin material, and examples include polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), glass-filled polypropylene (PP-G), polystyrene (PS), silicone resin, and fluorine-based resin.

The subgasket 5 seals the inside of the cell 11 by abutting against the separator 4 at its outer periphery.

(window)
The fuel cell 10 has windows B1 to B3 that communicate from the outside of the fuel cell 10 to the MEA 3 inside. The window B1 is provided in the casing 10b, and the window B2 is provided in the sealing rubber 12. The window B3 is provided in the separator 4, the gas diffusion layer 22, and the catalyst layer 21.

The windows B1 and B2 may be open in any of the x, y and z directions. The window B3 opens in the z direction and communicates with the window B1 which also opens in the z direction.
The windows B1 to B3 may be simple openings, but from the viewpoint of sealing, they may be openings provided with glass plates or plates made of a light-transmitting material other than glass.

The spectrometer 30 can irradiate the MEA 3 inside the fuel cell 10 with laser light through these windows B1 to B3, either from the peripheral side where the separator 4 is not arranged or from the separator 4 side, and receive light from the MEA 3. The optical path between the spectrometer 30 and the MEA 3 can be formed by an optical system such as a mirror, an optical fiber, a waveguide, etc.

(Spectrometer)
The spectrometer 30 irradiates the sample with light for measurement, for example, laser light, and receives light such as reflected light, scattered light, and emitted light generated from the sample in response to the irradiation of the laser light, and measures the intensity of the light.

Spectroscopic methods used by the spectrometer 30 include, for example, Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering (CARS), Raman spectroscopy, Infrared Spectroscopy (IR), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR).

In particular, it is preferable that the spectrometer 30 is a CARS spectrometer that performs measurements using the CARS method. A CARS spectrometer has a higher time resolution than other spectroscopic analysis methods such as Raman spectroscopy. For example, the time resolution of a neutron detector requires 10 seconds or more for detection, but a CARS spectrometer can perform detection in less than 1 second, making it possible to analyze the internal state of the fuel cell 10 in real time.

A CARS spectrometer irradiates a sample with two laser beams with different angular frequencies and measures the intensity of the coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering light (hereafter also referred to as CARS light) generated from the sample.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the configuration of the CARS spectrometer 30A.
4, the CARS spectrometer 30A includes a light source 31, an optical splitter 32, converters 33 and 34, a delay circuit 35, a detector 36, and a probe 38. The optical path in the CARS spectrometer 30A is formed by an optical system such as a mirror (not shown), but may be formed by an optical fiber, a waveguide, or the like.

In the CARS spectrometer 30A, the laser light emitted from the light source 31 is split into two laser lights by the optical splitter 32. Examples of the light source 31 include a titanium sapphire laser and a pulsed laser light source. Examples of the optical splitter 32 include optical systems such as a dichroic mirror and a half mirror, as well as a waveguide with a branch, an optical fiber, etc.

One of the branched laser beams (first laser beam) is converted by the converter 33 into Stokes light L2, which is a laser beam with an angular frequency ω2. Examples of the converter 33 include a photonic crystal fiber and an optical parametric oscillator. The Stokes light L2 may be white light containing light of different wavelengths. By using the Stokes light L2 with a wide wavelength range, it is possible to detect a wide variety of vibration modes.

The other branched laser light (second laser light) is converted by the converter 34 into pump light L1, which is a laser light with an angular frequency ω1. Examples of the converter 34 include a photonic crystal fiber and an optical parametric oscillator. The angular frequency ω1 of the pump light L1 is higher than the angular frequency ω2 of the Stokes light L2. The pump light L1 is guided to the same optical path as the Stokes light L2 via the delay circuit 35.

In addition, converters 33 and 34 can convert not only the angular frequency of the laser light, but also other characteristics such as the wavelength or direction of polarization of the laser light.

The Stokes light L2 and the pump light L1 are focused by the probe 38 and irradiated onto the sample S. The pump light L1 passes through the delay circuit 35, and is irradiated onto the sample S with a delay relative to the Stokes light L2. When the difference in angular frequency (ω1-ω2) between the pump light L1 and the Stokes light L2 matches the inherent vibration mode of the substance in the sample S, the molecular dipole moment is resonantly induced, and CARS light L3 with an angular frequency of 2ω1-ω2 is generated.

The detector 36 detects the intensity of the CARS light L3 generated from the sample S. The detector 36 is composed of a photoelectric conversion element such as a spectrometer, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), or an ICCD (Intensified CCD), but is not limited to these as long as it can measure the intensity of light at each wavelength.

When the laser light is irradiated from the separator 4 side through the windows B1 and B3, the position in the x, y or z direction where the laser light is irradiated can be changed by changing the focal position of the laser light of the spectrometer 30 in the x and y directions (in-plane directions) or in the z direction (thickness direction). When the laser light is irradiated from the peripheral edge side of the electrolyte membrane 1 through the windows B1 and B2, the in-plane position where the laser light is irradiated can be changed by changing the position or attitude of the probe 38, for example. By changing the irradiation position, it is also possible to switch the sample S to the electrolyte membrane 1 or the electrode 2.

(CARS spectrometer with easy adjustment of phase matching conditions)
The intensity of the CARS light L3 varies depending not only on the relative amount of the vibration source in the sample but also on the phase matching condition of the irradiated laser light. The phase matching condition can be adjusted by the characteristics of the polarization direction, frequency, etc. of the laser light irradiated to the sample S.

Figure 5 shows an example configuration of a CARS spectrometer 30B that allows easy adjustment of the phase matching conditions for generating CARS light L3. By using CARS spectrometer 30B instead of the above-mentioned CARS spectrometer 30A, adjustments for increasing the detection intensity of CARS light L3 become easier.

CARS spectrometer 30B is the same as CARS spectrometer 30A except for the configuration for irradiating pump light L1. In FIG. 5, the same components as those of CARS spectrometer 30A shown in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The CARS spectrometer 30B switches between multiple pump beams L11 to L13 with different characteristics and irradiates the sample S. To this end, the CARS spectrometer 30B includes multiple optical splitters 37 that further split the laser beam split by the optical splitter 32 into two or more laser beams, and multiple optical paths that guide each of the split beams to the sample S.

The CARS spectrometer 30B has one or more converters 34 and delay circuits 35 on each optical path. The converters 34 convert the wavelength, angular frequency, or direction of polarization of the light, similar to the converters 34 in the CARS spectrometer 30A. Each laser light branched by the optical brancher 37 is converted by the converters 34 on each optical path into multiple pump light beams L11 to L13 with different characteristics.

The CARS spectrometer 30B also includes a switching unit 39 for the pump light beams L11 to L13. In this embodiment, the switching unit 39 includes shutters 391 to 393 arranged on the optical paths of the pump light beams L11 to L13, respectively, and a control unit 394 for the shutters. The shutters 391 to 393 open and close the optical paths through which the pump light beams L11 to L13, which have passed through the delay circuit 35, reach the sample S. The control unit 394 performs control to open one of the shutters 391 to 393 and close the rest in response to a user operation.

As a result, only the pump light selected from the pump light L11 to L13 in response to the adjustment operation of the phase matching condition is irradiated onto the sample S. For example, if the pump light selected by the control unit 394 in response to the adjustment operation by the operator is pump light L11, the control unit 394 opens the shutter 391 and closes the shutters 392 and 393. As a result, only the pump light L11 is irradiated onto the sample S together with the Stokes light L2.

The configuration of the switching unit 39 is not limited to this, so long as it is possible to select one of the pump lights L11 to L13 and switch to the selected pump light. For example, instead of splitting the laser light for the pump light by the optical splitter 37, a waveguide that guides the laser light to one of the optical paths of the pump lights L11 to L13 may be provided as the switching unit 39.

Normally, because there is one optical path each for the Stokes light and the pump light, as in the CARS spectrometer 30A, it is necessary to modify the system, such as by replacing the converter 34 for the pump light L1, in order to adjust the phase matching conditions. Therefore, adjustments during measurement are not easy. In particular, modifying the system after it has been installed in the vehicle 200 is difficult.

In contrast, with the CARS spectrometer 30B, the characteristics of the pump light irradiated together with the Stokes light L2, i.e., the phase matching condition, can be easily adjusted by simply switching the pump light L11 to L13, even during measurement. For example, by switching the pump light L11 to L13, it is possible to adjust to the phase matching condition when the intensity of the CARS light L3 is at its maximum.

Although the CARS spectrometer 30B switches between the three pump lights L11 to L13, the number of switchable pump lights is not limited to three, and may be two, four or more.
Also, instead of the pump light L1, the Stokes light L2 may be branched into two or more beams having different characteristics, and one of the beams may be selected. The characteristics of both the pump light L1 and the Stokes light L2 may be made different.

In the above CARS spectrometers 30A and 30B, the Stokes light L2 and the pump light L1 are laser lights branched from one light source 31, but it is also possible to provide light sources such as ultrashort pulse laser devices with different frequencies to generate the Stokes light L2 and the pump light L1, respectively. In the case of one light source, the measurement conditions can be made the same, and in the case of two light sources, it is easy to set the generation conditions of the Stokes light L2 and the pump light L1.

(Diagnostic device)
The diagnostic device 50 performs qualitative or quantitative analysis of the metals or metal compounds in the fuel cell 10 based on the measurement results from the spectrometer 30. As the diagnostic device 50, for example, a computer equipped with a CPU and a memory for storing a program executed by the CPU, a microcomputer, or the like can be used.

The qualitative analysis can be performed by identifying peaks due to vibrational modes between atoms including the metal to be analyzed in the spectrum obtained by the spectrometer 30. For example, when the object to be analyzed is platinum, a peak due to Pt-Pt molecules appears around 200 cm ⁻¹ .

The method of quantitative analysis is not particularly limited, but for example, the amount of metal can be calculated using reference data. The reference data is data in which the light intensity detected by the spectrometer 30 is associated with a known amount of metal. The light intensity can be calculated as the intensity or area of a peak resulting from a vibration mode between atoms including the metal being analyzed.

Examples of the analysis targets include platinum or platinum compounds such as platinum oxide contained in the electrolyte membrane 1. For example, the diagnostic device 50 acquires the measurement results of the spectrometer 30 at different positions in the thickness direction (z direction) or in-plane direction (x-y plane) of the electrolyte membrane 1, and analyzes the platinum or platinum compounds in the electrolyte membrane 1 based on the measurement results, thereby creating a profile of platinum distributed in the thickness direction or in-plane direction of the electrolyte membrane 1. From such a platinum profile, it is possible to understand the phenomenon of platinum band formation, in which platinum dissolves from the catalyst layer 21 into the electrolyte membrane 1.

The subject of analysis may not only be the electrolyte membrane 1, but also platinum or platinum compounds such as platinum oxide in the electrode 2 or subgasket 5. By such analysis, it is possible to grasp the amount of platinum eluted from the electrode 2 or the amount of platinum eluted into the subgasket 5, etc.

The subject of analysis may also be metals or metal compounds such as nickel or chromium in the electrolyte membrane 1, the electrode 2, or the subgasket 5. Such analysis can identify the presence of metal impurities.

The diagnostic device 50 can create a profile to be used for controlling the output voltage of the fuel cell 10 based on the platinum profile. For example, the diagnostic device 50 creates a profile to control the output voltage of the fuel cell 10 so as to suppress the elution of platinum based on a profile showing the correlation between the amount of platinum distributed in the thickness direction or in-plane direction of the electrolyte membrane 1 and the output voltage. Information on the output voltage of the fuel cell 10 can be obtained from the control device 60.

The diagnostic device 50 can also create a profile to be used to control the output voltage of the fuel cell 10 based on the driving information of the vehicle 200 and the platinum profile. Driving information of the vehicle 200 is, for example, the amount of accelerator depression while the vehicle 200 is running, steering wheel operation information, etc., and can be obtained from the control device 60.

For example, the diagnostic device 50 can identify the amount of accelerator depression when the platinum strength is higher than a certain value, and create a control profile that sets an upper limit for the output voltage that can be extracted from the fuel cell 10 relative to the amount of accelerator depression so that the platinum strength does not exceed the certain value.

The diagnostic device 50 may also create a control profile for each driving mode of the vehicle 200. For example, the output voltage of the fuel cell 10 fluctuates more on mountain roads, which have steeper slopes, than in urban areas. Therefore, the diagnostic device 50 can create a control profile for the mountain road driving mode that has a lower increase rate and upper limit of the output voltage of the fuel cell 10 than the control profile for the urban driving mode.

The platinum ionized at the cathode is transported to the electrolyte membrane 1 by the water generated by the chemical reaction at the cathode, generating a platinum band. Since the amount of water generated depends on the output voltage, the diagnostic device 50 may create a profile of the water contained in the electrolyte membrane 1 or the electrode 2 based on the measurement results by the spectrometer 30. The diagnostic device 50 can also create a profile to be used for controlling the output voltage based on the respective profiles of water and platinum so as to suppress the transport of platinum by water.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a profile showing the correlation between the output voltage of the fuel cell 10 and the intensity K of the light originating from water measured in the thickness direction of the electrolyte membrane 1. In FIG.
In this profile, the light intensity K measured at regular time intervals at positions 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 μm away from the cathode in the thickness direction is plotted.

While the fuel cell 10 is generating electricity at an output voltage of 0.1 A/ ^cm3 , there is little change in the intensity K, and the intensity K decreases the farther from the cathode. However, when the output voltage is increased from 0.1 A/ ^cm3 to 1.0 A/ ^cm3 at time T1, the intensity K increases overall due to the sudden increase in output voltage, and it can be analyzed that a lot of water is being generated. The intensity K increases the closer to the cathode, and a particularly sudden increase in water is observed at the 0 μm phase in contact with the cathode.

A sudden increase is observed between time T1 and time T2, and thereafter the change in intensity K is small. When the time T1-T2 is 5 seconds, the diagnostic device 50 can create a stepwise control profile for increasing the output voltage by (1.0-0.1)/5 (A/cm ³ ) per second when increasing the output voltage from 0.1 A/cm ³ to 1.0 A/cm ³ . A control profile for suppressing such a sudden output voltage may be created by PID control. When a secondary battery or the like is installed in addition to the fuel cell 10 as a power source, the suppressed output voltage of the fuel cell 10 may be compensated for by another power source.

The diagnostic device 50 may create a profile used to control the amount of air supplied to the cathode, rather than the output voltage. Platinum ionized at the cathode is transported to the electrolyte membrane 1 by water produced by a chemical reaction at the cathode. The higher the output voltage of the fuel cell 10, the greater the amount of water produced. Therefore, the diagnostic device 50 creates a profile that controls the amount of air supplied, which is the fuel gas, according to the output voltage. This allows the water that acts as a carrier for the platinum to be expelled by the air.

Specifically, when the output voltage has a low platinum intensity, the diagnostic device 50 determines the amount of air to be supplied to the cathode according to the stoichiometric ratio so as to obtain the required output voltage. When the output voltage has a platinum intensity higher than a certain value, the diagnostic device 50 determines the amount of air to be supplied to be increased beyond the amount determined by the stoichiometric ratio.

To promote the discharge of water to the gas diffusion layer 22 side and prevent back diffusion of water to the electrolyte membrane 1 side, it is preferable to use a gas diffusion layer sheet that exhibits hydrophilicity with a contact angle of less than 90° as the gas diffusion layer 22.

(Control device)
The control device 60 controls the output voltage of the fuel cell 10 based on signals from various sensors mounted on the vehicle 200. The control device 60 is, for example, an electronic control unit (ECU).

The control device 60 can control the output voltage of the fuel cell 10 or the supply of air to the cathode based on the control profile created by the diagnostic device 50.

As described above, according to the analysis system 100 of this embodiment, the MEA 3 in the fuel cell 10 is measured by the spectrometer 30, so that the metals or metal compounds inside the fuel cell 10 can be analyzed from outside the fuel cell 10 without disassembling the fuel cell 10. The fuel cell 10 itself can be analyzed in real time while generating electricity, rather than being prepared for an experiment, which improves the accuracy of the analysis.

The above describes preferred embodiments of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

For example, in the above embodiment, the analysis system 100 analyzes the fuel cell 10 generating power on the vehicle 200, but the analysis may also be performed on the fuel cell 10 connected to an experimental load instead of the vehicle 200.

In addition, the sample used by the CARS spectrometer 30B described above is not limited to the fuel cell 10, but can be used for various samples such as intracellular biomolecules.

100: Analysis system, 30: Spectrometer, 31: Light source, 33, 34: Converter, 36: Detector, 50: Diagnostic device, 10: Fuel cell, 1: Electrolyte membrane, 2: Electrode, 21: Catalyst layer, 22: Gas diffusion layer, 3: MEA, 4: Separator, 5: Subgasket, B1 to B3: Windows

Claims (6)

An analysis system (100) for a fuel cell (10) comprising an electrolyte membrane (1) and a pair of electrodes (2) on either side of the electrolyte membrane (1), comprising:
a spectrometer (30) that irradiates the electrolyte membrane (1) or the electrodes (2) with laser light from outside the fuel cell (10) and measures the intensity of light emitted by the electrolyte membrane (1) or the electrodes (2);
and a diagnostic device (50) for analyzing metals or metal compounds contained in the electrolyte membrane (1) or the electrodes (2) based on the measurement results of the spectrometer (30) ,
The diagnostic device (50) creates a profile to be used for controlling the output voltage of the fuel cell (10) based on the analysis results of the metal or the metal compound.
An analysis system (100). The fuel cell (10) supplies power to a mobile object;
the diagnostic device (50) creates the profile used to control the output voltage of the fuel cell (10) based on the analysis results of the metal and driving information of the moving body;
The analytical system (100) of claim 1. The spectrometer (30) is a CARS spectrometer (30A, 30B) that irradiates the electrolyte membrane (1) or the electrode (2) with two laser beams having different angular frequencies and measures the intensity of coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering light emitted by the electrolyte membrane (1) or the electrode (2).
The analytical system (100) of claim 1 or 2 . the diagnostic device acquires measurement results of the spectrometer (30) at different positions in a thickness direction or an in-plane direction of the electrolyte membrane (1) or the electrode (2), and analyzes the metal or the metal compound distributed in the thickness direction or the in-plane direction of the electrolyte membrane (1) or the electrode (2) based on the acquired measurement results.
The analytical system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 . the metal is platinum;
The metal compound is platinum oxide.
An analytical system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims. A method for analyzing a fuel cell (10) comprising an electrolyte membrane (1) and a pair of electrodes (2) on either side of the electrolyte membrane (1), comprising the steps of:
a step of irradiating the electrolyte membrane (1) or the electrode (2) with laser light by a spectrometer (30) and measuring the intensity of light emitted by the electrolyte membrane (1) or the electrode (2);
and analyzing the metal or metal compound contained in the electrolyte membrane (1) or the electrode (2) based on the measurement results of the spectrometer (30).
Analysis methods.

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