Vapor-fed electrolysis of water using earth-abundant catalysts in Nafion or in bipolar Nafion/poly(benzimidazolium) membranes

Giesbrecht, Patrick K.; Müller, Astrid M.; Read, Carlos G.; Holdcroft, Steven; Lewis, Nathan S.; Freund, Michael S.

doi:10.1039/c9se00672a

Cited by 18 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 73 publications

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“…In 2019, Giesbrecht et al. reported a bipolar vapor-fed electrolyzer using earth-abundant catalysts and a bipolar membrane based on Nafion and hexamethyl- p -terphenyl poly(benzimidazolium) . Yet, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a liquid water-fed full zero-gap water electrolyzer using bipolar membranes (BPM) and interfaces.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bipolar Membrane Electrode Assemblies for Water Electrolysis

Mayerhöfer

McLaughlin

Böhm

et al. 2020

ACS Appl. Energy Mater.

114

123

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We present the first analysis of a zero-gap bipolar membrane water electrolyzer fed with liquid water. Our electrolyzers feature a high-pH environment for the oxygen evolution reaction and a low-pH environment for the hydrogen evolution reaction. The advantages of proton exchange membrane water electrolysis can be combined with those of anion exchange membrane water electrolysis by including a water splitting bipolar interface. First, we develop a KOH-free anion exchange membrane electrolysis cell. The cell's alkaline anode serves as an integral building block on the path to a bipolar system. In a second step, we use this building block to investigate the cell operation characteristics of various cell configurations. We study the cell performance as the bipolar interface is shifted progressively toward the anode. A bipolar membrane with and without a water splitting catalyst resulted in cell current densities of 450 and 5 mA cm −2 at cell voltages of 2.2 V, respectively. Upon moving the bipolar interface directly between the acidic membrane and the high-pH anode, we achieved current densities of 9000 mA cm −2 at cell voltages of 2.2 V. Our study demonstrates the potential of this water electrolysis configuration, which should be adopted for further scientific studies and may show promise for future commercial water electrolysis systems.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bipolar Membrane Electrode Assemblies for Water Electrolysis

Mayerhöfer

McLaughlin

Böhm

et al. 2020

ACS Appl. Energy Mater.

114

123

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“…1b), which feed the respective electrode reactions. [22][23][24] Interested readers are referred to a recent review by Giesbrecht et al 25 There are opposing opinions in the literature on how a stable pH gradient needs to be implemented in a real water electrolysis device. In contrast to fuel cells, water electrolyzers feature membrane and AEI soaked in a liquid electrolyte.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the effect of anion exchange ionomer binders in bipolar electrode membrane interface water electrolysis

et al. 2021

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“…Alteration of the outer layers of monopolar membranes has been a beneficial approach for increasing ion selectivity, leading to the field of selectrodialysis, as well as promoting the interaction of the membrane with catalyst layers in membrane–electrode assemblies (MEAs) to enhance the mass transport and electrokinetics of electrolyzers and fuel cells (FCs). − Initial reports have investigated the alteration of the outer layer of BPMs by incorporating metal oxides into the AEL layers. ,, Studies on bipolar FC designs, and more recently BPM-based electrolyzers, have altered the catalyst-ionomer-containing layers in order to balance water uptake and gas uptake/removal by introducing hydrophobic components, analogous to the optimization methods used in the monopolar membrane-based technologies. − Though preliminary, the incorporation of well-characterized CEL and AEL structures into BPMs allows outer layer modification following the procedures conducted in the monopolar communities, significantly reducing the learning curve associated with BPM integration and improving the performance of BPM-based devices.…”

Section: Bpm Interface Optimizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent Advances in Bipolar Membrane Design and Applications

2020

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Integration of bipolar membranes (BPMs) into electrochemical cells is an established method for acid and base generation, as well as desalinization methods. More recently, BPMs have been recognized for their ability to control the environment of half-reactions, including the maintenance of a pH gradient, without significant loss in efficiency. Over the past few years, significant advances have been made in BPM design, resulting in rapid deployment of BPMs into a wide range of applications, from mineral extraction, to energy storage and conversion frameworks, to ionotronics. Here, we explore the fundamentals of BPM operation and recent methods that have improved the performance and stability of BPMs and provide an overview of the limitations inherent to current BPM-based technologies, with a focus on future directions. Finally, we highlight research areas where BPM integration has enhanced, or is essential for, device operation, showing the versatility, potential, and broad range of research areas impacted by BPMs.

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Vapor-fed electrolysis of water using earth-abundant catalysts in Nafion or in bipolar Nafion/poly(benzimidazolium) membranes

Abstract: Vapor-fed electrolysis of water has been performed using membrane-electrode assemblies (MEAs) incorporating earth-abundant catalysts and bipolar membranes (BPMs).

Cited by 18 publications

References 73 publications

Bipolar Membrane Electrode Assemblies for Water Electrolysis

Bipolar Membrane Electrode Assemblies for Water Electrolysis

On the effect of anion exchange ionomer binders in bipolar electrode membrane interface water electrolysis

Recent Advances in Bipolar Membrane Design and Applications

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