New XAFS beamline for structural and electronic dynamics of nanoparticle catalysts in fuel cells under operating conditions

Abstract

We are currently constructing a new X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) beamline BL36XU at SPring-8 dedicated for the structural and electronic analysis of the dynamic events on polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) cathode catalysts for the development of next-generation PEFCs. To investigate the cathode catalyst nanoparticles in PEFCs under the operating conditions, the beamline is designed to provide time- and spatially resolved XAFS techniques having a time resolution of 100 μs, spatial resolution of 200 nm, and depth resolution of 1 μm. We report the outline and design of the new beamline.