Electrically Insulated Catalyst–Ionomer Anode Interfaces toward Durable Alkaline Membrane Electrolyzers

Kwak, Minkyoung; Ojha, Kasinath; Shen, Meikun; Boettcher, Shannon W.

doi:10.1021/acsenergylett.3c02620

Title: Electrically Insulated Catalyst–Ionomer Anode Interfaces toward Durable Alkaline Membrane Electrolyzers

Journal Article · 15 February 2024 · ACS Energy Letters

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenergylett.3c02620 · OSTI ID:2322440

Kwak, Minkyoung ^[1];

^[2];

^[3]

University of Oregon, Eugene, OR (United States); University of Oregon
University of Oregon, Eugene, OR (United States)
University of Oregon, Eugene, OR (United States); University of California, Berkeley, CA (United States); Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)

Anion-exchange-membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) is an emerging technology for scalable hydrogen production. AEMWE has poor durability when operating without supporting electrolyte due to the oxidation of ionomers and membranes in contact with the anode oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalyst. We report a new “passivated” anode architecture for AEMWE where the OER catalysts and ionomers are physically separated with a thin film amorphous oxide coating that is electrically insulating but conductive to hydroxide ions. We find that 2–3 nm of HfO_x passivation layers show sufficient hydroxide ion transport to minimally limit the cell performance while suppressing ionomer degradation with both Ir (500 mA·cm^–2 for 40 h) and CoO_x (1.0 A·cm^–2 for 100 h) model porous-transport-layer-supported catalysts in AEMWE. As a result, this interfacial engineering approach guides electrode design to improve the durability of AEMWE, particularly for systems operating with pure-water feed.

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Research Organization:: University of Oregon, Eugene, OR (United States)

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

Grant/Contract Number:: EE0008841

OSTI ID:: 2322440

Journal Information:: ACS Energy Letters, Journal Name: ACS Energy Letters Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 9; ISSN 2380-8195

Publisher:: American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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