The impacts of membrane pinholes on PEM water electrolysis

Liu, Chang; Wrubel, Jacob; Padgett, Elliot; Bender, Guido

doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2023.233507

Title: The impacts of membrane pinholes on PEM water electrolysis

Journal Article · Mon Aug 14 00:00:00 EDT 2023 · Journal of Power Sources

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2023.233507· OSTI ID:1997374

^[1]; Wrubel, Jacob ^[1]; Padgett, Elliot ^[1];

^[1]

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) water electrolysis is a promising technology to efficiently produce green hydrogen. Irregularities in membrane electrode assembly (MEA) component materials caused by manufacturing, processing, handling, or operation can lead to performance loss and failure. One example is the presence of pinholes in the membrane, which can cause increased gas transport (crossover) and lead to electrical shorting. This work investigates the effects of intentionally introduced pinholes with various sizes up to 350μm in diameter. The presence of the pinholes resulted in minimal impacts on the cell voltage (±30 mV at 4Acm^-2). However, the pinholes significantly increased H₂ crossover, which decreased hydrogen production efficiency and increased the minimum current density for safe operation. The impacts of the pinhole on the H₂ crossover and efficiency are more severe for open pinhole features than tear-like pinhole features. In conclusion, this research demonstrates that even small pinholes cannot be disregarded from a safety, efficiency, and operating strategy perspective.

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Research Organization:: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

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

Grant/Contract Number:: AC36-08GO28308; EE0008836

OSTI ID:: 1997374

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1995904

Report Number(s):: NREL/JA-5900-86050; MainId:86823; UUID:f81a2c5a-cfe8-4861-9833-eda2905d8b52; MainAdminID:70328

Journal Information:: Journal of Power Sources, Vol. 581; ISSN 0378-7753

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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defect
efficiency
hydrogen crossover
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