Hybrid 3D‐Ordered Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) with Highly Stable Structure, Enlarged Interface, and Ultralow Ir Loading by Doping Nano TiO₂ Nanoparticles for Water Electrolyzer

Abstract

Proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) is a very promising and sustainable hydrogen production technology. Currently, there is a growing interest in achieving ordered structures within membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for PEMWE. However, both ordered electron conductor and ordered proton conductor structures are single component structure, which still have many shortcomings. In this work, a hybrid ordered membrane electrodes assembly based on cone‐shaped is constructed Nafion array with rough surface by introducing TiO2 nanoparticles to Nafion emulsion. As a result, this hybrid ordered MEA achieves a high surface roughness of 3.39 nm that is 2.64 times higher than that of ordered MEA without TiO2 nanoparticles doped and current density up to 2.48 A cm−2 at 2 V with 14.4 µg cm−2 (Ir) catalyst loading. This work provides a new hybrid ordered structure for MEA and exhibits the great potential of enhancing the interfacial contact between the catalyst layer and Nafion membrane to improve PEMWE performance.

Iridium Selenium Oxyhydroxide Shell for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Water Electrolyzer with Low Ir Loading

“…Various strategies, including alloying, fabricating hierarchical structures, and introducing catalyst supports, have been investigated to develop electrocatalysts with low Ir content (≤0.4 mg Ir ·cm –2 ). − Studies on fuel cells have shown that introducing support materials can improve catalyst utilization and significantly reduce the use of precious metals . In particular, carbon, which exhibits a well-developed pore structure (high specific surface area) and excellent electrical conductivity, may serve as an ideal support for enhancing performance while minimizing Ir usage.…”