An anion exchange membrane is a polymer film bearing fixed cationic groups that conducts hydroxide or other anions while blocking the transport of cations and of the reactant gases. In a water electrolyser the membrane separates the two electrodes, carries the ionic current and sets the ohmic loss, so its conductivity and its stability in hot alkali largely determine how the cell performs; cationic head groups attached to an aryl-ether-free backbone resist the nucleophilic attack that degrades earlier materials [1]. Cross-linking two cationic sites into one polymer chain raises the ion content without the swelling that usually comes with it, and hence improves both conductivity and dimensional stability [2]. Carbonate formed when the cell is fed with air rather than pure oxygen lowers the conductivity, and models of the electrolyte composition quantify how large that penalty is [3]. Because reported performance depends strongly on cell hardware and test protocol, a standard test cell has been proposed for comparing membranes and catalysts [4]. The alkaline environment also widens the catalyst choice to nickel-based hydrogen evolution catalysts [5].
- hydroxide conductivity
- anion-conducting polymer
- water electrolysis
- cationic head group
- ion exchange capacity
- alkaline stability
- membrane electrode assembly
Fuel Cells and Related Materials·Electrical and Electronic Engineering·Engineering·Physical Sciences
References
- Vinodh, R.; Kalanur, S.S.; Natarajan, S.K.; Pollet, B.G.; Recent Advancements of Polymeric Membranes in Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzer (AEMWE): A Critical Review. Polymers 2023, 15, 2144, 10.3390/polym15092144.
- Tang, X.; Yu, Z.; Tang, J.; Yang, G.; Zhang, X.; Chen, Y.; Hou, J.; Wu, J.; Dual-cation cross-linked poly (aryl piperidine) membrane for anion exchange membrane water electrolyzer. Fuel 2025, 396, 135349, 10.1016/j.fuel.2025.135349.
- Stanislaw, L.N.; Gerhardt, M.R.; Weber, A.Z.; Modeling Electrolyte Composition Effects on Anion-Exchange-Membrane Water Electrolyzer Performance. ECS Transactions 2019, 92, 767-779, 10.1149/09208.0767ecst.
- Faqeeh, A.H.; Symes, M.D.; A standard electrolyzer test cell design for evaluating catalysts and cell components for anion exchange membrane water electrolysis. Electrochimica Acta 2023, 444, 142030, 10.1016/j.electacta.2023.142030.
- Miao, D.; Li, J.; Ren, J.; Chen, Z.; Exploring the Potential of Ni‐Based Hydrogen Evolution Catalysts in Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzer. Advanced Materials 2026, 38, e20491, 10.1002/adma.202520491.