Membrane Electrolyzers for Impure-Water Splitting

Membrane electrolyzers enable the production of high-purity H-2 from pure water. There is growing interest in developing this technology to operate in impure water. While proton-exchange-membrane (PEM) electrolyzers are the current industry leaders, anion-exchange-membrane (AEM) electrolyzers might be better suited for impure-water operation with further development. Here, the technical barriers to developing AEM electrolyzers for impure-water splitting are discussed. We highlight progress in the field and present possible research approaches to advance the field.