The role of ionic blockades in controlling the efficiency of energy recovery in forward bias bipolar membranes

Toh, Wei Lun; Dinh, Hieu Q.; Chu, An T.; Sauvé, Ethan R.; Surendranath, Yogesh

doi:10.1038/s41560-023-01404-7

The role of ionic blockades in controlling the efficiency of energy recovery in forward bias bipolar membranes

Journal Article · Mon Dec 04 00:00:00 EST 2023 · Nature Energy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-023-01404-7· OSTI ID:2228558

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Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States); Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States)

Limited understanding exists about the operation of bipolar membranes (BPMs) in forward bias to convert protonic gradients into electrical work, despite their emerging role in many electrochemical devices. In these device contexts, the BPM is typically exposed to complex electrolyte mixtures, but their impact on polarization remains poorly understood. Here, for this work, we develop a mechanistic model explaining the forward bias polarization behaviour of BPMs in mixed electrolytes with different acidities/basicities. This model invokes that weak acids/bases accumulate in the BPM and impose an ionic blockade that inhibits the recombination of stronger acids/bases, resulting in a substantial neutralization overpotential. We demonstrate the utility of our model for fuel cells and redox flow batteries and introduce two materials design strategies for mitigating this inhibition. Lastly, we apply our findings to enhance the energy efficiency of carbonate management in CO₂ electrolysers. This work highlights how non-equilibrium local environments at membrane–membrane interfaces can define the efficiency of protonic-to-electrical energy conversion.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0021634

OSTI ID:: 2228558

Journal Information:: Nature Energy, Journal Name: Nature Energy Vol. 8; ISSN 2058-7546

Publisher:: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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The role of ionic blockades in controlling the efficiency of energy recovery in forward bias bipolar membranes

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