IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v192y2017icp477-489.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Enhanced performance and durability of low catalyst loading PEM water electrolyser based on a short-side chain perfluorosulfonic ionomer

Author

Listed:
  • Siracusano, Stefania
  • Baglio, Vincenzo
  • Van Dijk, Nicholas
  • Merlo, Luca
  • Aricò, Antonino Salvatore

Abstract

Water electrolysis supplied by renewable energy is the foremost technology for producing “green” hydrogen for fuel cell vehicles. In addition, the ability to rapidly follow an intermittent load makes electrolysis an ideal solution for grid-balancing caused by differences in supply and demand for energy generation and consumption. Membrane-electrode assemblies (MEAs) designed for polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) water electrolysis, based on a novel short-side chain (SSC) perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) membrane, Aquivion®, with various cathode and anode noble metal loadings, were investigated in terms of both performance and durability. Utilizing a nanosized Ir0.7Ru0.3Ox solid solution anode catalyst and a supported Pt/C cathode catalyst, in combination with the Aquivion® membrane, gave excellent electrolysis performances exceeding 3.2A·cm−2 at 1.8V terminal cell voltage (∼80% efficiency) at 90°C in the presence of a total catalyst loading of 1.6mg⋅cm−2. A very small loss of efficiency, corresponding to 30mV voltage increase, was recorded at 3A⋅cm−2 using a total noble metal catalyst loading of less than 0.5mg·cm−2 (compared to the industry standard of 2mg·cm−2). Steady-state durability tests, carried out for 1000h at 1A⋅cm−2, showed excellent stability for the MEA with total noble metal catalyst loading of 1.6mg·cm−2 (cell voltage increase ∼5μV/h). Moderate degradation rate (cell voltage increase ∼15μV/h) was recorded for the low loading 0.5mg·cm−2, MEA. Similar stability characteristics were observed in durability tests at 3A·cm−2. These high performance and stability characteristics were attributed to the enhanced proton conductivity and good stability of the novel membrane, the optimized structural properties of the Ir and Ru oxide solid solution and the enrichment of Ir species on the surface for the anodic catalyst.

Suggested Citation

  • Siracusano, Stefania & Baglio, Vincenzo & Van Dijk, Nicholas & Merlo, Luca & Aricò, Antonino Salvatore, 2017. "Enhanced performance and durability of low catalyst loading PEM water electrolyser based on a short-side chain perfluorosulfonic ionomer," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C), pages 477-489.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:192:y:2017:i:c:p:477-489
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.09.011
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261916313137
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.09.011?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cinti, Giovanni & Baldinelli, Arianna & Di Michele, Alessandro & Desideri, Umberto, 2016. "Integration of Solid Oxide Electrolyzer and Fischer-Tropsch: A sustainable pathway for synthetic fuel," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 308-320.
    2. Bensmann, B. & Hanke-Rauschenbach, R. & Müller-Syring, G. & Henel, M. & Sundmacher, K., 2016. "Optimal configuration and pressure levels of electrolyzer plants in context of power-to-gas applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 167(C), pages 107-124.
    3. Troncoso, E. & Newborough, M., 2010. "Electrolysers as a load management mechanism for power systems with wind power and zero-carbon thermal power plant," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(1), pages 1-15, January.
    4. Kato, Moritaka & Maezawa, Shouji & Sato, Kouichi & Oguro, Keisuke, 1998. "Polymer-electrolyte water electrolysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 59(4), pages 261-271, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Kang, Zhenye & Mo, Jingke & Yang, Gaoqiang & Li, Yifan & Talley, Derrick A. & Retterer, Scott T. & Cullen, David A. & Toops, Todd J. & Brady, Michael P. & Bender, Guido & Pivovar, Bryan S. & Green, Jo, 2017. "Thin film surface modifications of thin/tunable liquid/gas diffusion layers for high-efficiency proton exchange membrane electrolyzer cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 983-990.
    2. Yang, Weiguang & Guo, Hui & Niu, Fuquan & Wang, Bingjie & Huang, Bin & Niu, Sirui & Liu, Jianli & Yang, Shuting & Yang, Yange, 2023. "A novel strategy for accelerating degradation of proton exchange membranes in fuel cell," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 213(C), pages 38-46.
    3. Zhao, Lei & Hong, Jichao & Xie, Jiaping & Jiang, Shangfeng & Wei, Xuezhe & Ming, Pingwen & Dai, Haifeng, 2023. "Investigation of local sensitivity for vehicle-oriented fuel cell stacks based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(PA).
    4. Kaya, Mehmet Fatih & Demir, Nesrin & Rees, Neil V. & El-Kharouf, Ahmad, 2020. "Improving PEM water electrolyser’s performance by magnetic field application," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).
    5. Hu, Zunyan & Xu, Liangfei & Huang, Yiyuan & Li, Jianqiu & Ouyang, Minggao & Du, Xiaoli & Jiang, Hongliang, 2018. "Comprehensive analysis of galvanostatic charge method for fuel cell degradation diagnosis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 1321-1332.
    6. Lv, Hong & Sun, Yongwen & Wang, Sen & Chen, Jingxian & Gao, Yuanfeng & Hu, Ding & Yao, Han & Zhang, Cunman, 2024. "Synergistic gradient distribution of IrO2/TiNX ratio and ionomer content reduces the internal voltage loss of the anode catalytic layer in PEM water electrolysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 363(C).
    7. Siracusano, S. & Van Dijk, N. & Backhouse, R. & Merlo, L. & Baglio, V. & Aricò, A.S., 2018. "Degradation issues of PEM electrolysis MEAs," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 52-57.
    8. Pantò, Fabiola & Siracusano, Stefania & Briguglio, Nicola & Aricò, Antonino Salvatore, 2020. "Durability of a recombination catalyst-based membrane-electrode assembly for electrolysis operation at high current density," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    9. Valerio Mariani & Giovanna Adinolfi & Amedeo Buonanno & Roberto Ciavarella & Antonio Ricca & Vincenzo Sorrentino & Giorgio Graditi & Maria Valenti, 2024. "A Survey on Anomalies and Faults That May Impact the Reliability of Renewable-Based Power Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-29, July.
    10. Trocino, Stefano & Lo Faro, Massimiliano & Zignani, Sabrina Campagna & Antonucci, Vincenzo & Aricò, Antonino Salvatore, 2019. "High performance solid-state iron-air rechargeable ceramic battery operating at intermediate temperatures (500–650 °C)," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 233, pages 386-394.
    11. Yang, Gaoqiang & Mo, Jingke & Kang, Zhenye & Dohrmann, Yeshi & List, Frederick A. & Green, Johney B. & Babu, Sudarsanam S. & Zhang, Feng-Yuan, 2018. "Fully printed and integrated electrolyzer cells with additive manufacturing for high-efficiency water splitting," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(C), pages 202-210.
    12. Shahgaldi, Samaneh & Alaefour, Ibrahim & Li, Xianguo, 2018. "The impact of short side chain ionomer on polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell performance and durability," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 217(C), pages 295-302.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Pantò, Fabiola & Siracusano, Stefania & Briguglio, Nicola & Aricò, Antonino Salvatore, 2020. "Durability of a recombination catalyst-based membrane-electrode assembly for electrolysis operation at high current density," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    2. Yang, Gaoqiang & Mo, Jingke & Kang, Zhenye & Dohrmann, Yeshi & List, Frederick A. & Green, Johney B. & Babu, Sudarsanam S. & Zhang, Feng-Yuan, 2018. "Fully printed and integrated electrolyzer cells with additive manufacturing for high-efficiency water splitting," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(C), pages 202-210.
    3. Kaya, Mehmet Fatih & Demir, Nesrin & Rees, Neil V. & El-Kharouf, Ahmad, 2020. "Improving PEM water electrolyser’s performance by magnetic field application," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).
    4. Polverino, Pierpaolo & Sorrentino, Marco & Pianese, Cesare, 2017. "A model-based diagnostic technique to enhance faults isolability in Solid Oxide Fuel Cell systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 1198-1214.
    5. Nicole Meinusch & Susanne Kramer & Oliver Körner & Jürgen Wiese & Ingolf Seick & Anita Beblek & Regine Berges & Bernhard Illenberger & Marco Illenberger & Jennifer Uebbing & Maximilian Wolf & Gunter S, 2021. "Integrated Cycles for Urban Biomass as a Strategy to Promote a CO 2 -Neutral Society—A Feasibility Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-22, August.
    6. Mo, Jingke & Kang, Zhenye & Yang, Gaoqiang & Retterer, Scott T. & Cullen, David A. & Toops, Todd J. & Green, Johney B. & Zhang, Feng-Yuan, 2016. "Thin liquid/gas diffusion layers for high-efficiency hydrogen production from water splitting," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 817-822.
    7. Zhang, Hanfei & Wang, Ligang & Van herle, Jan & Maréchal, François & Desideri, Umberto, 2020. "Techno-economic evaluation of biomass-to-fuels with solid-oxide electrolyzer," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    8. Frank Labunski & Birte Schnurr & Julia Pössinger & Thomas Götz, 2024. "Environmental Impact of e-Fuels via the Solid Oxide Electrolyzer Cell (SOEC) and Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis (FTS) Route for Use in Germany," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-15, February.
    9. Chen, Bin & Xu, Haoran & Ni, Meng, 2017. "Modelling of SOEC-FT reactor: Pressure effects on methanation process," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P1), pages 814-824.
    10. Perez-Trujillo, Juan Pedro & Elizalde-Blancas, Francisco & Della Pietra, Massimiliano & McPhail, Stephen J., 2018. "A numerical and experimental comparison of a single reversible molten carbonate cell operating in fuel cell mode and electrolysis mode," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C), pages 1037-1055.
    11. Habibollahzade, Ali & Gholamian, Ehsan & Behzadi, Amirmohammad, 2019. "Multi-objective optimization and comparative performance analysis of hybrid biomass-based solid oxide fuel cell/solid oxide electrolyzer cell/gas turbine using different gasification agents," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 233, pages 985-1002.
    12. G. García Clúa, José & Mantz, Ricardo J. & De Battista, Hernán, 2011. "Evaluation of hydrogen production capabilities of a grid-assisted wind-H2 system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(5), pages 1857-1863, May.
    13. Cheng, Haoran & Xia, Yanghong & Hu, Zhiyuan & Wei, Wei, 2024. "Optimum pulse electrolysis for efficiency enhancement of hydrogen production by alkaline water electrolyzers," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 358(C).
    14. Freire Ordóñez, Diego & Shah, Nilay & Guillén-Gosálbez, Gonzalo, 2021. "Economic and full environmental assessment of electrofuels via electrolysis and co-electrolysis considering externalities," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 286(C).
    15. Mehran, Muhammad Taqi & Yu, Seong-Bin & Lee, Dong-Young & Hong, Jong-Eun & Lee, Seung-Bok & Park, Seok-Joo & Song, Rak-Hyun & Lim, Tak-Hyoung, 2018. "Production of syngas from H2O/CO2 by high-pressure coelectrolysis in tubular solid oxide cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 759-770.
    16. Weiliang Wang & Dan Wang & Hongjie Jia & Guixiong He & Qing’e Hu & Pang-Chieh Sui & Menghua Fan, 2017. "Performance Evaluation of a Hydrogen-Based Clean Energy Hub with Electrolyzers as a Self-Regulating Demand Response Management Mechanism," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-23, August.
    17. Herz, Gregor & Rix, Christopher & Jacobasch, Eric & Müller, Nils & Reichelt, Erik & Jahn, Matthias & Michaelis, Alexander, 2021. "Economic assessment of Power-to-Liquid processes – Influence of electrolysis technology and operating conditions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    18. Herz, Gregor & Reichelt, Erik & Jahn, Matthias, 2018. "Techno-economic analysis of a co-electrolysis-based synthesis process for the production of hydrocarbons," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(C), pages 309-320.
    19. Gray, Nathan & O'Shea, Richard & Smyth, Beatrice & Lens, Piet N.L. & Murphy, Jerry D., 2022. "What is the energy balance of electrofuels produced through power-to-fuel integration with biogas facilities?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    20. Morgenthaler, Simon & Kuckshinrichs, Wilhelm & Witthaut, Dirk, 2020. "Optimal system layout and locations for fully renewable high temperature co-electrolysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:192:y:2017:i:c:p:477-489. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.