Advanced Patterned Membranes for Efficient Alkaline Membrane Electrolyzers
Chuan Hu, Young Jun Lee, Young Jun Lee, Yichang Ma, Xiaohua Zhang, Seung Won Jung, Hyewon Hwang, Hyeon Cho, Myeong‐Geun Kim, Sung Jong Yoo, Qiu Gen Zhang, Young Moo Lee, Young Moo Lee
Abstract
High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Rational design of membrane electrode assemblies is crucial to the production of high-performance and durable anion exchange membrane (AEM) water electrolyzers (AEMWEs). Here, we propose a facile method to prepare patterned membranes by casting a polymer solution onto the surface of commercially available monocrystalline silicon plates with pyramid-shaped patterns on their surface. The prepared membrane shows a 39% improvement in water permeability and a 23% enhancement in the electrochemical surface area compared with a flat membrane with the same catalyst loading. The patterned AEM achieves an unprecedented current density of 17.5 A cm –2 @2.0 V and mass activity of 26.3 A mg IrO2 –1 using a catalyst-coated membrane method. Moreover, the patterned AEM-based AEMWE can be operated at 1.5 A cm –2 and 60 °C for 1000 h with a relatively low voltage decay rate of 22 μV h –1 . These results demonstrate that patterned membranes have promising application capability for the next generation of hydrogen-production devices.