Hydrogen production with seawater-resilient bipolar membrane electrolyzers

Article Engineering, Environmental

Direct seawater electrolysis via synergistic acidification by inorganic precipitation and proton flux from bipolar membrane

Ji-Hyung Han et al.

Summary: This study explores direct seawater electrolysis by introducing hydroxide ions into seawater, overcoming issues like cathode passivation, and proposing a solution for long-term DSE operation.

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL (2022)

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Article Chemistry, Multidisciplinary

Exploring the Interface of Porous Cathode/Bipolar Membrane for Mitigation of Inorganic Precipitates in Direct Seawater Electrolysis

Ji-Hyung Han

Summary: This study investigates the effect of interface optimization between a porous electrode and a bipolar membrane on mitigating inorganic scaling in zero-gap seawater electrolyzers. The research finds that while inorganic deposits form on the front side of the porous cathode, the back side remains free from thick deposits due to the locally acidic environment generated by proton flux. The introduction of an open area in the bipolar membrane further mitigates precipitation on the front side of the porous cathode. These findings provide critical guidance for addressing inorganic scaling in direct seawater electrolysis.

CHEMSUSCHEM (2022)

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Article Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology

Seawater electrolysis technologies for green hydrogen production: challenges and opportunities

Fei-Yue Gao et al.

Summary: This article introduces the potential of green hydrogen as a sustainable energy source and its application in seawater electrolysis. The authors discuss the key aspects of seawater electrolysis, including the challenges and recent developments in electrode materials, as well as outline potential strategies for achieving highly efficient and selective catalysts in seawater electrolysis.

CURRENT OPINION IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING (2022)

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Article Chemistry, Multidisciplinary

Anode Catalysts in Anion-Exchange-Membrane Electrolysis without Supporting Electrolyte: Conductivity, Dynamics, and Ionomer Degradation

Raina A. Krivina et al.

Summary: Anion-exchange-membrane water electrolyzers operate without soluble electrolyte using earth-abundant catalysts to lower the cost of green H-2. However, the lack of competitive performance and durability due to a poor understanding of catalyst-specific degradation processes remains a critical issue. This study investigates non-PGM anode catalysts in AEMWEs, revealing that catalyst electrical conductivity and restructuring during operation are key factors in achieving high performance and stability. The results also highlight the dynamic catalytic processes leading to AEMWE device failure, demonstrate a viable non-PGM catalyst for operation, and provide design rules for improving performance and durability.

ADVANCED MATERIALS (2022)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Design principles for water dissociation catalysts in high-performance bipolar membranes

Lihaokun Chen et al.

Summary: This study reveals the important role of electronic conductivity in modulating the performance of water dissociation catalysts in bipolar membranes and finds that ionic conductivity has little effect on performance. Optimized BPM water electrolyzers can efficiently generate oxygen and hydrogen, which may accelerate the deployment of new technologies.

NATURE COMMUNICATIONS (2022)

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Article Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Properties of Anion Exchange Membranes with a Focus on Water Electrolysis

Hamza Khalid et al.

Summary: This study investigates the mechanical properties, ion conductivity, alkaline stability, and water permeability of alkaline membranes by measuring stress-strain curves in temperature-controlled water. The results show that PI-15 and mTPN have higher ion conductivity, and mTPN has the highest water permeability.

MEMBRANES (2022)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Continuous electrochemical water splitting from natural water sources via forward osmosis

Samuel S. Veroneau et al.

Summary: This study presents a method of utilizing impure water sources for electrochemical water splitting by leveraging forward osmosis, maintaining a concentration gradient that induces water flow and allows for water splitting without pretreatment and minimal energy efficiency losses.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (2021)

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Article Chemistry, Physical

Increased Donnan exclusion in charged polymer networks at high salt concentrations

Kevin W. Gao et al.

Summary: The swelling of charged polymeric networks in electrolytic solutions was studied using a classical thermodynamic model. The well-established theory of Donnan exclusion was examined, which predicts that with increasing electrolyte concentration, the exclusion of electrolytes from the gel would decrease. However, the model predicts that the magnitude of Donnan exclusion actually increases with increasing electrolyte concentration in a broad range of parameter space.

SOFT MATTER (2021)

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Article Nanoscience & Nanotechnology

Performance and Durability of Pure-Water-Fed Anion Exchange Membrane Electrolyzers Using Baseline Materials and Operation

Grace A. Lindquist et al.

Summary: Green hydrogen produced by water electrolysis powered by renewable electricity can replace fossil fuels. Anion-exchange-membrane (AEM) electrolyzers offer advantages of commercial proton-exchange-membrane systems with the use of less expensive materials and catalysts. Limited research and development in AEM electrolyzers due to lack of accessible materials and difficulty in comparing results, but using commercially available materials can provide a high-performance baseline for future development.

ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES (2021)

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Editorial Material Chemistry, Physical

Water electrolysis: Direct from the sea or not to be?

Pau Farras et al.

Summary: Researchers conducted a quantitative analysis to assess the economic feasibility of direct seawater electrolysis as a sustainable energy source.

JOULE (2021)

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Review Chemistry, Multidisciplinary

Durability of anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers

Dongguo Li et al.

Summary: This article explores the durability-limiting factors and mitigation strategies of AEMWEs under different operating modes, and connects the extended-term behaviors of AEMWEs at the single-cell level with the instability of single-cell components in terms of electrochemical, chemical, and mechanical aspects. The pros and cons of AEMWEs under these operation modes are discussed, along with providing directions for achieving long-lasting AEMWEs with highly efficient hydrogen production capabilities.

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE (2021)

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Review Engineering, Chemical