Highly efficient platinum group metal free based membrane-electrode assembly for anion exchange membrane water electrolysis

Abstract

Low-temperature electricity-driven water splitting is an established technology for hydrogen production. However, the two main types, namely proton exchange membrane (PEM) and liquid alkaline electrolysis, have limitations. For instance, PEM electrolysis requires a high amount of costly platinum-group-metal (PGM) catalysts, and liquid alkaline electrolysis is not well suited for intermittent operation. Herein we report a highly efficient alkaline polymer electrolysis design, which uses a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) based on low-cost transition-metal catalysts and an anion exchange membrane (AEM). This system exhibited similar performance to the one achievable with PGM catalysts. Moreover, it is very suitable for intermittent power operation, durable, and able to efficiently operate at differential pressure up to 3 MPa. This system combines the benefits of PEM and liquid alkaline technologies allowing the scalable production of low-cost hydrogen from renewable sources.

Keywords: anion exchange membrane; electrocatalysis; hydrogen; water splitting.