On the Nature of Field-Enhanced Water Dissociation in Bipolar Membranes

Bui, Justin C.; Corpus, Kaitlin Rae M.; Bell, Alexis T.; Weber, Adam Z.

doi:10.1021/acs.jpcc.1c08276

On the Nature of Field-Enhanced Water Dissociation in Bipolar Membranes

Journal Article · Tue Nov 09 04:00:00 EST 2021 · Journal of Physical Chemistry. C

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.1c08276· OSTI ID:1897718

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Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States); Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)

Bipolar membranes (BPMs) possess the potential to optimize pH environments for electrochemical synthesis applications when employed in reverse bias. Unfortunately, the performance of BPMs in reverse bias has long been limited by the rate of water dissociation (WD) occurring at the interface of the BPM. Herein, we develop a continuum model of the BPM that agrees with experiment to understand and enhance WD catalyst performance by considering multiple kinetic pathways for WD in the BPM junction catalyst layer. Here, the model reveals that WD catalysts with a more highly alkaline or acidic pH at the point of zero charge (pH_PZC) exhibit accelerated WD kinetics because the more acidic or alkaline pH_PZC catalysts possess greater surface charge, enhancing the local electric field and rate of WD. The model is then employed to explore the sensitivity of the BPM performance to various BPM physical parameters. Finally, the model is used to simulate the operation of bimetallic WD catalysts, demonstrating that an optimal bimetallic catalyst has an acidic pH_PZC catalyst matched with the cation-exchange layer and an alkaline pH_PZC catalyst matched with the anion-exchange layer. The study provides insight into the operation of BPM WD catalysts and gives direction toward the development of next-generation WD catalysts for optimal BPM performance under water-splitting and related conditions.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); National Science Foundation (NSF); US Army Research Office (ARO)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-05CH11231; SC0021266

OSTI ID:: 1897718

Journal Information:: Journal of Physical Chemistry. C, Journal Name: Journal of Physical Chemistry. C Journal Issue: 45 Vol. 125; ISSN 1932-7447

Publisher:: American Chemical SocietyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
catalysts
electric fields
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On the Nature of Field-Enhanced Water Dissociation in Bipolar Membranes

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References (54)

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