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Review
. 2023 Apr 30;15(9):2144.
doi: 10.3390/polym15092144.

Recent Advancements of Polymeric Membranes in Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzer (AEMWE): A Critical Review

Rajangam Vinodh  1 , Shankara Sharanappa Kalanur  1 , Sadesh Kumar Natarajan  1 , Bruno G Pollet  1
Affiliations
Review

Recent Advancements of Polymeric Membranes in Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzer (AEMWE): A Critical Review

Rajangam Vinodh et al. Polymers (Basel). .

Abstract

Water electrolysis coupled with renewable energy is one of the principal methods for producing green hydrogen (or renewable hydrogen). Among the different electrolysis technologies, the evolving anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) shows the utmost promise for the manufacture of green hydrogen in an inexpensive way. In the present review, we highlight the most current and noteworthy achievements of AEMWE, which include the advancements in increasing the polymer anionic conductivity, understanding the mechanism of degradation of AEM, and the design of the electrocatalyst. The important issues affecting the AEMWE behaviour are highlighted, and future constraints and openings are also discussed. Furthermore, this review provides strategies for producing dynamic and robust AEMWE electrocatalysts.

Keywords: AEMWE; anion exchange membrane; anionic conductivity; electrolyzer; oxygen and hydrogen evolution reaction.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Scheme 1
Scheme 1
Schematic timeline illustration for developing WE technology.
Figure 1
Figure 1
Comparative pictures of the different electrolyzer techniques: (a) AWE, (b) PEMFC, and (c) SOE.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematic representation of the AEMWE.
Figure 3
Figure 3
(a) Schematic illustration of the PFPB-QA synthesis route; (b) digital image of PFPB-QA membrane; (c) mechanical characteristics of PFPB-QA; (d) ion exchange capacity and conductivity as a function of time. Reproduced with permission from [68]. Copyright 2023 Elsevier.
Figure 4
Figure 4
(a) Synthesis procedure of PIS; (b–d) photos of PISPVA46, PISPVA37, and PISPVA28 membranes, respectively; (e) hydroxyl ion conductivity of PISPVAx membrane with respect to temperature; (f) polarization curve of various PISPVAx membranes; (g) durability performance of the PISPVA46 membrane. Reproduced with permission from [75]. Copyright 2020 Elsevier.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Reaction protocol of PTP-x synthesis. Reproduced with permission from [86]. Copyright 2021 Elsevier.
Figure 6
Figure 6
(a) Photo of indigenous water electrolyzer setup; (b) alkaline durability of PTP membrane in 1 M sodium hydroxide at 80 °C; (c) water absorption and swelling ratio of PTP membrane as a function of temperature; (d) I–V curves for the AEMWEs with PTP AEM at 55 °C; (e) AEMWEs with PTP-90 at various temperatures; (f) durability study of AEMWEs with PTP-85 at 55 °C at 400 mA cm−2. Reproduced with permission from [86]. Copyright 2021 Elsevier.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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