Experimental investigation of anion exchange membrane water electrolysis for a tubular microbial electrosynthesis cell design
Zhiyuan Chen, Asier Grijalvo Rodriguez, Pello Nunez, Diane van Houtven, Deepak Pant, Jan Vaes
Abstract
Tubular water splitting electrolyzer was adapted to neutral pH conditions for the in-situ H2 supplying microbial electrosynthesis design. The electrolyzer was optimized to reduce ohmic losses and provide adequate gas separation. Direct membrane deposition was applied on a thin anionic exchange membrane for the membrane-electrode-assembly fabrication. Although the membrane resistance increased with the increasing membrane thickness from 55 to 165 μm, the contact resistance was reduced by applying stronger compression pressure on the membrane-electrode interface. A durability test was run for 120 h, showing a voltage increase of 134 μV/h. Moreover, the hydrogen permeability coefficient was determined at 10−14 mol/(mˑsˑPa).