2024 AIChE Annual Meeting
(358e) Tracking Material Dynamics in Zero-Gap Water Electrolyzers Under Operando Conditions
Authors
The membrane electrode assembly (MEA) where water is converted into H2 and O2 is the heart of a zero-gap electrolyzer. The complex interactions between water, gas, ionomer, catalyst, and porous transport layer have a profound impact on electrochemical performance and understanding the dynamic changes to these interfaces during device operation is challenging. Here, we present a range of hardware and techniques we have developed to probe MEA dynamics under operando conditions (>2 A cm-2). These include synchrotron compatible electrolyzer hardware that enables techniques such as HERFD-XANES to track the evolution of catalyst oxidation states, as well as x-ray radiography to track bubble transport. Furthermore, we have also developed lab-based methods such as online ICP-MS which enable us to track degradation resulting from material loss. Together, these methods enable insight into the dynamic chemical processes and degradation mechanisms that dictate device performance and inform design of durable next-generation water electrolyzers.