Platinum and Cerium-Zirconium Oxide Co-Doped Membrane for Mitigated H₂ Crossover and Ionomer Degradation in PEWE

Abstract

The use of thinner membranes in polymer electrolyte water electrolysis increases the likelihood of forming an explosive H2/O2 mixture in the anode stream. Doping Pt nanoparticles into a Nafion membrane as recombination catalyst effectively lowers the hydrogen crossover. Here, we propose the additional co-doping of cerium-zirconium oxide as radical scavenger to mitigate membrane degradation. Our results show over 4-fold reduction of anodic hydrogen content compared to a non-doped membrane, and a nearly 3-fold decrease of fluoride release rate compared to the membrane with only Pt-doping at 80°C and differential pressure (pc = 3 bar, pa = 1 bar) operation.

Cathode Catalyst Layer Design in PEM Water Electrolysis toward Reduced Pt Loading and Hydrogen Crossover

“…The prepared CCM was assembled in an electrolysis cell, which was then mounted onto a home-built electrolysis testbench for electrochemical measurements at 80 °C, as described previously. 30 The anode water was circulated at a flow rate of ∼300 mL/min and purified in an ion-exchange bed during each pass. The anode pressure was kept at ambient throughout the study, while three levels of cathode pressures (1, 3, and 7 bar) were employed.…”