A novel micro protective layer applied on a simplified PEM water electrolyser

作者：Sung Chia Chi; Liu Chao Yang^*

来源：International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2013, 38(24): 10063-10067.

DOI：10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.06.034

• Water electrolyser
• Proton exchange membrane
• Micro protective layer
• Hydrogen production

This study presents a solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) technique, using a proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolyser, to produce high purity hydrogen and oxygen (both 99.99%). A proposed structural design provides comprehensive sealing of the assembly while combining a current collector and a flow field plate into a single component. The titanium porous disc with a highly condensed structure compared to the carbon based gas diffusion layer plays a key role as the support for the proton exchange membrane when producing high-pressure hydrogen. The electrochemical stability is enhanced as well owing to the consolidated component. The titanium porous disc is coated with noble metal catalysts (IrO2/Ta2O5 composition) as a micro protective layer (MPL) to prevent corrosion and oxidation during hydrogen production from water electrolysis. The proposed MPL can effectively transform active oxygen species (such as oxygen atoms and hydroxyl free radicals) into harmless oxygen gas during water electrolysis. In this study, it is found that the electrolytic cell can sustain up to 10 bar and its lifetime is capable of lasting over 600 h continuously while maintaining a voltage of 2.33 to 2.35 V and current density of 1 A cm(-2).

• 出版日期2013-8-12