Degradation Effects at the Porous Transport Layer/Catalyst Layer Interface in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Water Electrolyzer

Liu, Chang; Shviro, Meital; Bender, Guido; Gago, Aldo S.; Morawietz, Tobias; Dzara, Michael J.; Biswas, Indro; Gazdzicki, Pawel; Kang, Zhenye; Zaccarine, Sarah F.; Pylypenko, Svitlana; Friedrich, K. Andreas; Carmo, Marcelo; Lehnert, Werner

doi:10.1149/1945-7111/acc1a5

Degradation Effects at the Porous Transport Layer/Catalyst Layer Interface in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Water Electrolyzer

Journal Article · Wed Mar 29 00:00:00 EDT 2023 · Journal of the Electrochemical Society

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/1945-7111/acc1a5· OSTI ID:1963734

; Shviro, Meital; Bender, Guido; Gago, Aldo S.; Morawietz, Tobias; Dzara, Michael J.; Biswas, Indro; Gazdzicki, Pawel; ; ; Pylypenko, Svitlana; Friedrich, K. Andreas; Carmo, Marcelo; Lehnert, Werner

The porous transport layer (PTL)/catalyst layer (CL) interface plays a crucial role in the achievement of high performance and efficiency in polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWEs). This study investigated the effects of the PTL/CL interface on the degradation of membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) during a 4000 h test, comparing the MEAs assembled with uncoated and Ir-coated Ti PTLs. Our results show that compared to an uncoated PTL/CL interface, an optimized interface formed when using a platinum group metal (PGM) coating, i.e., an iridium layer at the PTL/CL interface, and reduced the degradation of the MEA. The agglomeration and formation of voids and cracks could be found for both MEAs after the long-term test, but the incorporation of an Ir coating on the PTL did not affect the morphology change or oxidation of IrO _x in the catalyst layer. In addition, our studies suggest that the ionomer loss and restructuring of the anodic MEA can also be reduced by Ir coating of the PTL/CL interface. Optimization of the PTL/CL interface improves the performance and durability of a PEMWE.

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Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: NONE; AC36-08GO28308

OSTI ID:: 1963734

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1960079
OSTI ID: 1971903

Journal Information:: Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Journal Name: Journal of the Electrochemical Society Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 170; ISSN 0013-4651

Publisher:: The Electrochemical SocietyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Degradation Effects at the Porous Transport Layer/Catalyst Layer Interface in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Water Electrolyzer

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Degradation Effects at the Porous Transport Layer/Catalyst Layer Interface in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Water Electrolyzer

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