Neutron imaging of fuel cells - Recent trends and future prospects

Neutron imaging has been used for nearly two decades to visualize the water distribution in operating polymer electrolyte fuel cells and address various issues related to water management. Its range of application ranges from small scale cells of a few cm2 to full-size technical cells, and the high penetration of neutrons through usual fuel cell structural materials make this technique particularly attractive for in situ studies. We present here an overview of the recent advances in this method and its application to fuel cell research, and discuss the prospects for the future on a selection of topics: the combination with advanced instrumentation, the imaging of catalyst layers, and the possibilities to go beyond the simple visualization of water.