Phenyl Oxidation Impacts the Durability of Alkaline Membrane Water Electrolyzer

Li, Dongguo; Matanovic, Ivana; Lee, Albert Sung Soo; Park, Eun Joo; Fujimoto, Cy; Chung, Hoon Taek; Kim, Yu Seung

doi:10.1021/acsami.9b00711

Title: Phenyl Oxidation Impacts the Durability of Alkaline Membrane Water Electrolyzer

Journal Article · 18 February 2019 · ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.9b00711 · OSTI ID:1503198

Li, Dongguo ^[1];

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^[1]; Fujimoto, Cy ^[3];

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Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States). Center for Micro-Engineered Materials (CMEM), Dept. of Chemical and Biological Engineering; Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States). Nanoscale Sciences Dept.

The durability of alkaline anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyzers is a critical requirement for implementing this technology in cost-effective hydrogen production. Here, we report that the electrochemical oxidation of the adsorbed phenyl group (found in the ionomer) on oxygen evolution catalysts produces phenol, which may cause performance deterioration in AEM electrolyzers. In-line ¹H NMR kinetic analyses of phenyl oxidation in a model organic cation electrolyte shows that catalyst type significantly impacts the phenyl oxidation rate at an oxygen evolution potential. Density functional theory calculations show that the phenyl adsorption is a critical factor determining the phenyl oxidation. This research provides a path for the development of more durable AEM electrolyzers with components that can minimize the adverse impact induced by the phenyl group oxidation, such as the development of novel ionomers with fewer phenyl moieties or catalysts with less phenyl-adsorbing character.

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Research Organization:: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Fuel Cell Technologies Office (EE-3F)

Grant/Contract Number:: 89233218CNA000001; AC02-05CH11231; NA0003525

OSTI ID:: 1503198

Report Number(s):: LA-UR--19-20066

Journal Information:: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, Journal Name: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 11; ISSN 1944-8244

Publisher:: American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
Energy Sciences
alkaline membrane electrolyzer
anion exchange ionomer
density functional theory
durability
phenyl adsorption
phenyl oxidation

Title: Phenyl Oxidation Impacts the Durability of Alkaline Membrane Water Electrolyzer

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