Su H., Bladergroen B.J., Linkov V., Pasupathi S., Ji S.
South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa
Su, H., South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa; Bladergroen, B.J., South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa; Linkov, V., South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa; Pasupathi, S., South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa; Ji, S., South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa
In this work, a catalyst sprayed membrane under irradiation (CSMUI) method was investigated to develop high performance membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) water electrolysis. The water electrolysis performance and properties of the prepared MEA were evaluated and analyzed by polarization curves, electrochemistry impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The characterizations revealed that the CSMUI method is very effective for preparing high performance MEA for SPE water electrolysis: the cell voltage can be as low as 1.564 V at 1 A cm-2 and the terminal voltage is only 1.669 V at 2 A cm-2, which are among the best results yet reported for SPE water electrolysis with IrO2 catalyst. Also, it is found that the noble metal catalysts loadings of the MEA prepared by this method can be greatly decreased without significant performance degradation. At a current density of 1 A cm-2, the MEA showed good stability for water electrolysis operating: the cell voltage remained at 1.60 V without obvious deterioration after 105 h operation under atmosphere pressure and 80 °C. ©2011, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Atmosphere pressure; Cell voltages; Electrochemistry impedance spectroscopy; Good stability; High performance; Membrane electrode assemblies; Membrane electrode assembly; Noble metal catalysts; Performance degradation; Polarization curves; Solid polymer electrolyte; Solid polymer electrolytes; Terminal voltages; Water electrolysis; Catalysts; Hydrogen; Irradiation; Membranes; Polyelectrolytes; Polymers; Precious metals; Scanning electron microscopy; Electrolysis
