Degradation of anion exchange membranes used for hydrogen production by ultrapure water electrolysis

• DOI: 10.1039/c3ra46630b
• Publication Date: 2014-01-28T15:14:42Z
• Authors: Javier Parrondo; Christopher G. Arges; Mike Niedzwiecki; Everett B. Anderson; Katherine E. Ayers; Vijay Ramani
• Keywords: Alkaline water electrolysis; Electrolysis of water; Oxygen evolution; High-pressure electrolysis; Ultrapure water; High Temperature Electrolysis

Solid-state alkaline water electrolysis using a pure feed offers several distinct advantages over liquid electrolyte and proton exchange membrane electrolysis. These include larger array of electrocatalyst available for oxygen evolution, no management, the ability to apply differential pressure. To date, there have been only handful reports on solid-state electrolyzers anion membranes (AEMs), that investigate loss in system performance time. In this work, electrolyzer was successfully demonstrated with types polysulfone-based AEMs relatively expensive but highly active lead ruthenate pyrochlore evolution reaction. The ultrapure at 50 °C resulted current density 400 mA cm−2 1.80 V. We short-term degradation time largely consequence carbon dioxide intrusion into could be easily remedied, while long-term deterioration irreversible AEM polymer degradation.