Issue 10, 2024

3D-ordered catalytic nanoarrays interlocked on anion exchange membranes for water electrolysis

Abstract

High-performance membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) have significant importance for developing anion exchange membrane (AEM) water electrolysis, however, the fabrication of nanostructured MEAs to increase catalyst utilization, maximize three-phase boundaries, enhance mass transport and improve electrolysis stability remains a fundamental challenge. Here, we propose a swelling-assisted transfer strategy to construct ordered anodic catalyst layers (ACLs) on an AEM. Concretely, utilizing a three-dimensionally interlocked ACL/AEM interface formed using a direct membrane deposition method, the ordered ACLs can be perfectly transferred to AEMs at atmospheric pressure and low temperature, thus enabling MEAs with vertically oriented through-hole ACL structures and an aligned ionomer layer for OH transfer. Using the prepared MEA in AEM water electrolyzers, we obtain a current density of 3.61 A cm−2 at 2.0 V under pure-water-fed conditions, and stable operation for 700 h at a current density of 1.0 A cm−2 at ∼1.7 V. This work provides a universal approach to construct next-generation MEAs for membrane-based electrochemical devices.

Graphical abstract: 3D-ordered catalytic nanoarrays interlocked on anion exchange membranes for water electrolysis

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
01 Jan 2024
Accepted
08 Apr 2024
First published
10 Apr 2024

Energy Environ. Sci., 2024,17, 3396-3408

3D-ordered catalytic nanoarrays interlocked on anion exchange membranes for water electrolysis

L. Wan, J. Liu, D. Lin, Z. Xu, Y. Zhen, M. Pang, Q. Xu and B. Wang, Energy Environ. Sci., 2024, 17, 3396 DOI: 10.1039/D4EE00003J

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