Multi-scale physics of bipolar membranes in electrochemical processes

Bui, Justin C.; Lees, Eric W.; Marin, Daniela H.; Stovall, T. Nathan; Chen, Lihaokun; Kusoglu, Ahmet; Nielander, Adam C.; Jaramillo, Thomas F.; Boettcher, Shannon W.; Bell, Alexis T.; Weber, Adam Z.

doi:10.1038/s44286-023-00009-x

Cited by 11 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 144 publications

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“…Furthermore, metal oxide particles with acidic and alkaline pH values at the PZC increase the surface charge, and this accelerates water dissociation. 9,46 Boettcher et al improved upon their BPMWE by adopting an asymmetric BPM with a 2 μm thick PEM layer and a 50 μm thick HEM and utilizing a dual-layer catalyst (200 nm TiO 2 on the PEM and 200 nm NiO plus AEI). The dual-layer, asymmetric BPMWE had a water dissociation overpotential (η WD ) of 1.5 V at 3.4 A cm −2 .…”

Section: Bpms and Bipolar Interfaces For Water Electrolyzersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The working principle of the dual layer catalyst BPM is to select a metal oxide-based water dissociation catalyst with acidic pH at the point of zero charge (PZC) adjacent to the PEM and an alkaline pH at the PZC adjacent to the HEM. Furthermore, metal oxide particles with acidic and alkaline pH values at the PZC increase the surface charge, and this accelerates water dissociation. , Boettcher et al improved upon their BPMWE by adopting an asymmetric BPM with a 2 μm thick PEM layer and a 50 μm thick HEM and utilizing a dual-layer catalyst (200 nm TiO 2 on the PEM and 200 nm NiO plus AEI). The dual-layer, asymmetric BPMWE had a water dissociation overpotential (η WD ) of 1.5 V at 3.4 A cm –2 .…”

Section: Bpms and Bipolar Interfaces For Water Electrolyzersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…7 A more recent review by Bui et al focuses on the fundamental physics (thermodynamics, kinetics, and transport properties) of the BPMs. 9 This Spotlight Review, however, focuses more on BPM performance and stability in electrochemical devices. Furthermore, the last 2.5 years have seen new developments for the use of BPMs in electrochemical nitrate reduction, redox flow batteries beyond vanadium redox couples, pH-assisted electrochemical separations, and new cell architectures for BPM CO 2 electrolyzers that mitigate carbonate crossover and in other instances produce organic acids.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Three of the four review articles are over 2.5 years old. − The previous review articles provide a thorough discussion of the basic mechanics and physics of water dissociation and association in BPMs . A more recent review by Bui et al focuses on the fundamental physics (thermodynamics, kinetics, and transport properties) of the BPMs . This Spotlight Review, however, focuses more on BPM performance and stability in electrochemical devices.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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ACS Spotlight: Bipolar Membranes for Electrochemical Energy Conversion, Chemical Manufacturing, and Separations

Kulkarni,

Yang,

Zhang

et al. 2024

ACS Appl. Energy Mater.

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Sustainable energy conversion, chemical manufacturing, and separations are central to addressing the world's energy and environmental challenges. Electrochemical platforms stand as a cornerstone in addressing these challenges because they are low exergy and can be powered on renewable electrons. In electrochemical systems, bipolar membranes (BPMs) are emerging as a unique class of ion exchange membranes poised to revolutionize various electrochemical processes via pH control of anode and cathode chambers and in situ pH adjustment. In this Spotlight Review, we provide a comprehensive review of electrochemical platforms utilizing BPMs for energy conversion (water electrolyzers for hydrogen production, fuel cells, and flow batteries), chemical manufacturing (electrolyzers that convert carbon dioxide into value-added chemicals and nitrate into ammonia), and separations. The motivation for using BPMs, as well as their performance and durability, in electrochemical platforms are disseminated. We also discuss current challenges that impede BPM electrochemical systems from competing with state-of-the-art electrochemical systems using monopolar ion-exchange membranes (e.g., anion/hydroxide exchange membranes and cation/proton exchange membranes). The review also covers molecular modeling and continuum modeling efforts to understand the basic mechanisms that govern BPM performance.

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Section: Bpms and Bipolar Interfaces For Water Electrolyzersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Bpms and Bipolar Interfaces For Water Electrolyzersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

ACS Spotlight: Bipolar Membranes for Electrochemical Energy Conversion, Chemical Manufacturing, and Separations

Kulkarni,

Yang,

Zhang

et al. 2024

ACS Appl. Energy Mater.

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“…A bipolar membrane (BPM) is a laminate of anion- and cation-exchange ionomer layers that can support water dissociation and ionic separation of H + and OH – ions under the influence of an applied voltage. − The result is the buildup of a pH gradient across the BPM, which can be used for pH adjustments in various industrial chemical and biochemical processes. , BPM electrodialysis can also be used for acid/base generation from aqueous salt solutions and further in conjunction with CO 2 capture processes that use pH swings. , Furthermore, the use of a BPM in water and CO 2 electrolysis cells has been found to effectively mitigate unwanted reactant/product crossover , and to provide electrochemical environments that contribute to performance gains and to improved utilization of precious metals. − …”

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confidence: 99%

Divergent Synthesis of Bipolar Membranes Combining Strong Interfacial Adhesion and High-Rate Capability

Kao,

Chen,

Boettcher

et al. 2024

ACS Energy Lett.

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Bipolar membranes are emerging as attractive solid electrolytes for water electrolysis, electrochemical CO 2 reduction, and CO 2 capture by base from electrodialysis. The development of these technologies is currently hampered by the resistance of current commercial materials under reversed bias, as well as interfacial incompatibility between the layers that can lead to delamination. This letter reports a divergent route to a nonfluorinated TiO 2 -catalyzed bipolar membrane, where the interfacial compatibility is governed by constructing the cation/anion exchange layers from the same backbone chemistry. We show that this BPM design concept has the potential to drastically enhance the adhesion strength at the interfacial junction, without compromising rate capability under bipolar membrane water electrolysis conditions.

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Review on high‐performance polymeric bipolar membrane design and novel electrochemical applications

Yan,

Yu,

Wang

et al. 2024

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Electrochemical devices allow the conversion and storage of renewable energy into high‐value chemicals to mitigate carbon emissions, such as hydrogen production by water electrolysis, carbon dioxide reduction, and the electrochemical synthesis of ammonia. Independent regulation of the electrode pH environment is essential for optimizing the electrode reaction kinetics and enriching the catalyst species. The in situ water dissociation (WD, ) in bipolar membranes (BPMs) offers the possibility of realizing this pH adjustment. Here, the design principles of high‐performance polymeric BPMs in electrochemical device applications are presented by analyzing and connecting WD principles and current–voltage curves. The structure–transport property relationships and membrane durability, including the chemical and mechanical stability of the anion‐ and cation‐exchange layers as well as the integrality of the interfacial junction, are systematically discussed. The advantages of BPMs in new electrochemical devices and major challenges to break through are also highlighted. The improved ion and water transport in the membrane layer and the minimized WD overpotential and ohmic loss at high current densities are expected to facilitate the promotion of BPMs from conventional chemical production to novel electrochemical applications.

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Multi-scale physics of bipolar membranes in electrochemical processes

Cited by 11 publications

References 144 publications

ACS Spotlight: Bipolar Membranes for Electrochemical Energy Conversion, Chemical Manufacturing, and Separations

ACS Spotlight: Bipolar Membranes for Electrochemical Energy Conversion, Chemical Manufacturing, and Separations

Divergent Synthesis of Bipolar Membranes Combining Strong Interfacial Adhesion and High-Rate Capability

Review on high‐performance polymeric bipolar membrane design and novel electrochemical applications

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