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A Roadmap to Low‐Cost Hydrogen with Hydroxide Exchange Membrane Electrolyzers
Author(s) -
Abbasi Reza,
Setzler Brian P.,
Lin Saisai,
Wang Junhua,
Zhao Yun,
Xu Hui,
Pivovar Bryan,
Tian Boyuan,
Chen Xi,
Wu Gang,
Yan Yushan
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.201805876
Subject(s) - proton exchange membrane fuel cell , hydrogen production , polymer electrolyte membrane electrolysis , materials science , electrolysis , electrocatalyst , electrolysis of water , alkaline water electrolysis , ionomer , process engineering , energy carrier , membrane , high pressure electrolysis , power to gas , hydrogen , fuel cells , nanotechnology , chemical engineering , electrode , engineering , chemistry , polymer , electrochemistry , electrolyte , composite material , organic chemistry , biochemistry , copolymer
Hydrogen is an ideal alternative energy carrier to generate power for all of society's energy demands including grid, industrial, and transportation sectors. Among the hydrogen production methods, water electrolysis is a promising method because of its zero greenhouse gas emission and its compatibility with all types of electricity sources. Alkaline electrolyzers (AELs) and proton exchange membrane electrolyzers (PEMELs) are currently used to produce hydrogen. AELs are commercially mature and are used in a variety of industrial applications, while PEMELs are still being developed and find limited application. In comparison with AELs, PEMELs have more compact structure and can achieve higher current densities. Recently, however, an alternative technology to PEMELs, hydroxide exchange membrane electrolyzers (HEMELs), has gained considerable attention due to the possibility to use platinum group metal (PGM)‐free electrocatalysts and cheaper membranes, ionomers, and construction materials and its potential to achieve performance parity with PEMELs. Here, the state‐of‐the‐art AELs and PEMELs along with the current status of HEMELs are discussed in terms of their positive and negative aspects. Additionally discussed are electrocatalyst, membrane, and ionomer development needs for HEMELs and benchmark electrocatalysts in terms of the cost–performance tradeoff.