Tuning Catalyst Activation and Utilization Via Controlled Electrode Patterning for Low-Loading and High-Efficiency Water Electrolyzers

Yu, Shule; Li, Kui; Wang, Weitian; Xie, Zhiqiang; Ding, Lei; Kang, Zhenye; Wrubel, Jacob; Ma, Zhiwen; Bender, Guido; Yu, Haoran; Baxter, Jefferey; Cullen, David A.; Keane, Alex; Ayers, Kathy; Capuano, Christopher B.; Zhang, Feng‐Yuan

doi:10.1002/smll.202107745

Title: Tuning Catalyst Activation and Utilization Via Controlled Electrode Patterning for Low-Loading and High-Efficiency Water Electrolyzers

Journal Article · Thu Feb 17 00:00:00 EST 2022 · Small

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202107745· OSTI ID:1847272

^[1];

^[1]; Xie, Zhiqiang ^[1]; Ding, Lei ^[1]; Kang, Zhenye ^[2]; Wrubel, Jacob ^[2];

^[2]; Bender, Guido ^[2];

^[3]; Baxter, Jefferey ^[3];

^[3]; Keane, Alex ^[4]; Ayers, Kathy ^[4]; Capuano, Christopher B. ^[4];

^[1]

Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS)
Nel Hydrogen, Wallingford CT (United States)

An anode electrode concept of thin catalyst-coated liquid/gas diffusion layers (CCLGDLs), by integrating Ir catalysts with Ti thin tunable LGDLs with facile electroplating in proton exchange membrane electrolyzer cells (PEMECs), is proposed. The CCLGDL design with only 0.08 mg_Ir cm^-2 can achieve comparative cell performances to the conventional commercial electrode design, saving ~97% Ir catalyst and augmenting a catalyst utilization to ~24 times. CCLGDLs with regulated patterns enable insight into how pattern morphology impacts reaction kinetics and catalyst utilization in PEMECs. A specially designed two-sided transparent reaction-visible cell assists the in situ visualization of the PEM/electrode reaction interface for the first time. Oxygen gas is observed accumulating at the reaction interface, limiting the active area and increasing the cell impedances. In this work, it is demonstrated that mass transport in PEMECs can be modified by tuning CCLGDL patterns, thus improving the catalyst activation and utilization. The CCLGDL concept promises a future electrode design strategy with a simplified fabrication process and enhanced catalyst utilization. Furthermore, the CCLGDL concept also shows great potential in being a powerful tool for in situ reaction interface research in PEMECs and other energy conversion devices with solid polymer electrolytes.

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Research Organization:: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States); Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Transportation Office. Fuel Cell Technologies Office; USDOE Office of Science (SC)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC36-08GO28308; EE0008426; EE0008423; AC05-00OR22725

OSTI ID:: 1847272

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1845554; OSTI ID: 1854449

Report Number(s):: NREL/JA-5900-82281; MainId:83054; UUID:0c39ff00-ff16-40a5-ad08-6bb594a2d7ee; MainAdminID:63969

Journal Information:: Small, Vol. 18, Issue 14; ISSN 1613-6810

Publisher:: WileyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Title: Tuning Catalyst Activation and Utilization Via Controlled Electrode Patterning for Low-Loading and High-Efficiency Water Electrolyzers

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