Insight into elevated temperature and thin membrane application for high efficiency in polymer electrolyte water electrolysis

Garbe, S.; Futter, Jonas; Schmidt, Thomas J.; Gubler, Lorenz

doi:10.1016/j.electacta.2021.138046

Cited by 22 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…PEWE efficiency can be increased by increasing the operating temperature. 4 This leads to a decrease in the minimum electrical energy required for the water splitting reaction as well as decrease the kinetic limitations, i.e. kinetic and ohmic overpotentials, at practical current densities.…”

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confidence: 99%

Understanding Degradation Effects of Elevated Temperature Operating Conditions in Polymer Electrolyte Water Electrolyzers

Garbe

Futter

Agarwal

et al. 2021

J. Electrochem. Soc.

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The cost of polymer electrolyte water electrolysis (PEWE) is dominated by the price of electricity used to power the water splitting reaction. We present a liquid water fed polymer electrolyte water electrolyzer cell operated at a cell temperature of 100°C in comparison to a cell operated at state-of-the-art operation temperature of 60°C over a 300 h constant current period. The hydrogen conversion efficiency increases by up to 5% at elevated temperature and makes green hydrogen cheaper. However, temperature is a stress factor that accelerates degradation causes in the cell. The PEWE cell operated at a cell temperature of 100°C shows a 5 times increased cell voltage loss rate compared to the PEWE cell at 60°C. The initial performance gain was found to be consumed after a projected operation time of 3,500 h. Elevated temperature operation is only viable if a voltage loss rate of less than 5.8 μV h −1 can be attained. The major degradation phenomena that impact performance loss at 100°C are ohmic (49%) and anode kinetic losses (45%). Damage to components was identified by post-test electron-microscopic analysis of the catalyst coated membrane and measurement of cation content in the drag water. The chemical decomposition of the ionomer increases by a factor of 10 at 100°C vs 60°C. Failure by short circuit formation was estimated to be a failure mode after a projected lifetime 3,700 h. At elevated temperature and differential pressure operation hydrogen gas cross-over is limiting since a content of 4% hydrogen in oxygen represents the lower explosion limit.

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confidence: 99%

Understanding Degradation Effects of Elevated Temperature Operating Conditions in Polymer Electrolyte Water Electrolyzers

Garbe

Futter

Agarwal

et al. 2021

J. Electrochem. Soc.

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“…Currently, existing ET-PEMECs primarily operate at 100–150 °C, and Table lists the corresponding materials and performance parameters. In this regard, working pressure is a significantly decisive factor, and ET-PEMECs operating with liquid water at an elevated pressure of 2.5–5 bar ,− display notably superior performance over those operating with steam at a lower pressure. ,− In reality, evident performance deterioration was extensively observed under increasing working temperature while maintaining atmospheric pressure, ,, which is contradictory to the supposed enhanced thermodynamics and kinetics. As shown in Figure (a), an extremely high current density of 3000 mA·cm –2 was realized with a lower voltage of 1.86 V at 120 °C and 3 bar, while Figure (b) illustrates the utilized test system for operation and measurements at elevated working temperatures.…”

Section: Elevated Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Electrolys...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Water Electrolysis toward Elevated Temperature: Advances, Challenges and Frontiers

Zhang

Liu

et al. 2023

Chem. Rev.

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Since severe global warming and related climate issues have been caused by the extensive utilization of fossil fuels, the vigorous development of renewable resources is needed, and transformation into stable chemical energy is required to overcome the detriment of their fluctuations as energy sources. As an environmentally friendly and efficient energy carrier, hydrogen can be employed in various industries and produced directly by renewable energy (called green hydrogen). Nevertheless, large-scale green hydrogen production by water electrolysis is prohibited by its uncompetitive cost caused by a high specific energy demand and electricity expenses, which can be overcome by enhancing the corresponding thermodynamics and kinetics at elevated working temperatures. In the present review, the effects of temperature variation are primarily introduced from the perspective of electrolysis cells. Following an increasing order of working temperature, multidimensional evaluations considering materials and structures, performance, degradation mechanisms and mitigation strategies as well as electrolysis in stacks and systems are presented based on elevated temperature alkaline electrolysis cells and polymer electrolyte membrane electrolysis cells (ET-AECs and ET-PEMECs), elevated temperature ionic conductors (ET-ICs), protonic ceramic electrolysis cells (PCECs) and solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs).

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“…79 In addition, direct catalyst coating onto Nafion 117 and 212 membranes has proved to be a convenient way to increase the hydrogen conversion efficiency and current density. 80,81 Direct coating of catalyst on membranes results in enhancement of intimate interaction between these two phases that, in tun, results in reduction of charge transfer (for both electrons and protons) resistance. Despite the certain extent of development that has been achieved by carrying out modification of Nafion membranes, finding a suitable alternative low-cost PEM material that can demonstrate performance similar to Nafion, coupled with higher stability and durability, is the key for upscaling and development of commercial water electrolyzers.…”

Section: Proton Exchange Membranesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Similarly, sulphated zirconia was used to modify Nafion membrane for PEMWE application 79 . In addition, direct catalyst coating onto Nafion 117 and 212 membranes has proved to be a convenient way to increase the hydrogen conversion efficiency and current density 80,81 . Direct coating of catalyst on membranes results in enhancement of intimate interaction between these two phases that, in tun, results in reduction of charge transfer (for both electrons and protons) resistance.…”

Section: Proton Exchange Membranesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structures and properties of polymers in ion exchange membranes for hydrogen generation by water electrolysis

Gohil

Dutta

2021

Polymers for Advanced Techs

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Water electrolysis (WE) is an electrochemical process that splits water and forms hydrogen and oxygen, in presence of catalyst. This is a rapidly developing technology owing to its extreme importance in the generation of hydrogen. Membrane-based WE involves the use of anion exchange, proton exchange and bipolar membranes, among which the anion exchange membrane-based WE technology is in the most advanced stage, followed by the proton exchange membrane-based WE. While, the bipolar membrane-based WE is the most nascent technology. Among the different categories of membranes used, polymer-based membranes are the most acceptable ones. It is evident that the structure and properties of the polymers that constitute a membrane play the most important role in determining its applicability in WE application. Keeping this in mind, this review is dedicatedly focused on the different polymers that have been majorly used so far in fabrication of anion exchange, proton exchange, and bipolar membranes for WE, and exclusively analyzes the influence imparted by the structure and properties of the involved polymers on the final performance of the membranes.

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Insight into elevated temperature and thin membrane application for high efficiency in polymer electrolyte water electrolysis

Cited by 22 publications

References 59 publications

Understanding Degradation Effects of Elevated Temperature Operating Conditions in Polymer Electrolyte Water Electrolyzers

Understanding Degradation Effects of Elevated Temperature Operating Conditions in Polymer Electrolyte Water Electrolyzers

Water Electrolysis toward Elevated Temperature: Advances, Challenges and Frontiers

Structures and properties of polymers in ion exchange membranes for hydrogen generation by water electrolysis

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