Design and optimisation of a reference electrode integrated anion exchange membrane water electrolyser for hydrogen production
Zero-gap water electrolysers have shown their potential in large scale green hydrogen production, but their cost effectiveness and long-term durability remain limited by an incomplete understanding of electrocatalysts and electrode materials behaviour during full-cell electrolysis.
Here, a gasket-free anion exchange membrane water electrolyser (AEMWE) has been designed with an integrated reference electrode (RE) next to the membrane electrode assembly (MEA). A zero-gap design between the electrode and the membrane is achieved without the limitations of a gasket, ensuring close contact and minimising the system resistance and allowing precise monitoring of anode and cathode potentials individually during electrolysis.
With NiFe(OH)2 as the anode catalyst and NixSy as the cathode catalyst, electrolysis at a current density of 500 mA cm−2 was achieved at 1.86 V cell voltage with 1 M KOH electrolyte at 333 K. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurement with a Hg/HgO reference electrode during the electrolysis at the same conditions further reveal the potential loss distribution: 0.10 V from IR drop, 0.35 V from anode and 0.27 V from cathode.
These results demonstrate a simple but useful platform for decoupling performance-limiting processes in AEMWE systems and guiding the design of more durable and efficient electrolysers.
Authors
Cheng Lyu, James Yule, Mikey Jones, Jack Corbin, Zhenyu Zhang, Xiaohong Li, Karen Hudson-Edwards, Haijiao Lu, Lianzhou Wang, Zhiliang Wang, Gang Wang, Ye Chen, Wenjun Zhang & Hua Zhang
Article DOI
10.1016/j.jpowsour.2026.239271
Journal
Journal of Power Sources - Volume 667
Institution/Funder Name
University of Exeter