Nano Letters · 2023 · 78 citations · 31 references
In this work, an ordered membrane electrode assembly (MEA) based on a cone Nafion array with gradient Nafion distribution, tightly bonded catalytic layer/proton exchange membrane (CL/PEM) interface, and abundant vertical channels has been engineered by an anodic aluminum oxide template and magnetron sputtering method. Benefiting from a highly efficient CL/PEM interface, plentiful proton transfer highways, and rapid oxygen bubble release, this ordered MEA achieves an ultralow Ir loading of 20.0 μg cm<sup>-2</sup> and a high electrochemical active area by 8.7 times compared to traditional MEA with Ir loading of 1.0 mg cm<sup>-2</sup>. It yields a mass activity of 168 000 mA mg<sub>Ir</sub><sup>-1</sup> cm<sup>-2</sup> at 2.0 V, which is superior to most reported PEM electrolyzers. Notably, this ordered MEA maintains excellent durability at a current density of 500 mA cm<sup>-2</sup>. This work opens a simple, cost-effective, and scalable route to design ordered MEAs for proton exchange membrane water electrolysis.
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Electrolysis of low-grade and saline surface water
Wenming Tong, Mark Forster, Fabio Dionigi et al. · Nature Energy · 2020 · 1.1K citations