Degradation studies of proton exchange membrane water electrolysis cells with low platinum group metals- Catalyst coating achieved by atomic layer deposition

Activity and durability of a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) water electrolysis single cell, assembled with porous transport electrodes (PTEs) with a low catalyst loading were investigated for 500 h. A current density of 160 mA/cm2 and a high mass activity of 1368 A/ gIr were achieved while operating at 60 degrees C with 1 mol/L sulfuric acid. The degradation of the cell was characterized using different electrochemical and physicochemical methods before, during and after operation of the electrolysis cell and a mean degradation rate for the cell of 67 mV/h was determined at 15 mA/cm2. To the best of our knowledge this is the first time that long-term performance of a PEM water electrolysis cell assembled with PTEs coated by ALD is investigated.(c) 2022 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study investigates the activity and durability of a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) water electrolysis single cell assembled with porous transport electrodes (PTEs) with low catalyst loading for 500 hours. A current density of 160 mA/cm2 and a high mass activity of 1368 A/gIr were achieved at 60 degrees C with 1 mol/L sulfuric acid. The degradation of the cell was characterized using various electrochemical and physicochemical methods, and the average degradation rate of the cell was determined to be 67 mV/h at 15 mA/cm2. This is the first investigation of the long-term performance of a PEM water electrolysis cell assembled with PTEs coated by ALD.