Systematically Engineered Ternary Ele Anion Exchange Membrane Electrolyzers
Faculty of Mathematics and Physics
Leancat Electrolyzers
Owing to the current global energy demand and need for reducing carbon emissions, the hyd holds huge potential towards future sustainable energy technologies. Green hydrogen, produ electrolysis driven by renewable energy sources like solar, wind and tidal, is gaining sig attention due to its potential in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Alkaline electrolysis exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis serves as two major technologies for the production o low temperatures. Although being mature technologies, AE and PEM require highly concentrat electrolyte and platinum group metal (PGM) catalysts respectively, for their operation. Th for the development of safer to handle and earth abundant catalyst-based alternatives, to in electrolysis systems. In this regard, anion exchange membrane (AEM) water electrolyzers a promising candidate in advancing the hydrogen economy, leveraging the advantages of both water electrolysis systems. Operating in alkaline conditions, AEM electrolyzers avail non- catalysts based on earth abundant metals, thus lowering the dependence on expensive PGM ca of cost-effective and durable electrodes in AEM electrolyzers reduces the production costs enhancing the scalability of hydrogen generation technologies. Bringing AEM technology to requires optimization of the cell design, membranes and development of durable electrocata with laboratory scale testing of electrolyzer single cells. Herein, through the STEAM proj development and testing of new ternary electrocatalysts based on transition metals to be u materials in next generation AEM electrolyzers. Through a custom developed etched membrane technique, we target to employ ternary electrocatalyst coated membranes in AEM electrolyze scale testing. In addition, STEAM project also involves understanding the structural trans the as developed ternary electrocatalysts under operational electrolysis conditions, using ray techniques. Investigating the electrocatalysts in operando, will help to understand th mechanisms, benefiting towards the selection of best electrocatalysts to be upscaled for i viable active areas, usable in AEM electrolyzer shortstacks, which will be tested in coope Leancat electrolyzer company during the non-academic secondment. Thus, with STEAM project on developing new ternary electrocatalysts, followed by operando characterization and vali integration into single cell and lab scale larger area coated AEM electrolyzer setups, the towards the advancement of AEM electrolyzer based hydrogen generation technology.Sustainable Development Go Meet the Project If you had to explain your project to someone outside your field, how would you describe i sentences? My project targets to develop new catalysts (in simple words: substance that accelerates c processes) for being used in electrodes for water splitting to produce hydrogen: a potenti the future. I plan to investigate how different transition metal ternary compositions and on etched membranes contribute towards the water splitting efficiency in AEM electrolyzers aim is to identify potential ternary catalysts with improved hydrogen production capabilit its integration to industrially viable electrolyzers. What fascinates you most about the topic of your research project? What really fascinates me is the quest for that specific metal composition of ternary cata will impart improved performance and stability for AEM electrolyzers. Even a small wt% cha metal within the ternary matrix could lead to drastic change in electrocatalytic performan finding the apt ternary metal combinations in the right composition is challenging, but at brings immense curiosity. In addition, working with the state of the art membrane etching instrumentation (custom developed research facility at NG group) would help me in explorin of ternary metal combinations within the project timespan, which would be an asset for the STEAM project. This minor curiosity and resulting outputs could significantly help in the new AEM electrolyzers, thereby contributing to next generation green hydrogen fuel technol How does your research contribute specifically to achieving the UN Sustainable Development My research project contributes first to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) by developing ternary or low-PGM electrocatalysts for AEM water electrolyzers (AEM-WEs), thereby reducin and resource dependence of green hydrogen production. This upholds the broader deployment hydrogen technologies and enhances energy access based on renewable sources. STEAM further 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by minimizing or eliminating the use of scarce raw materials like PGMs, thereby supporting the use of sustainable materials in energy tec addition, it also supports SDG 13 (Climate Action) by directly contributing towards the pr green hydrogen via water electrolysis powered by renewable electricity. Thus supporting th of more accessible and sustainable electrolysis technologies essential for reducing global gas emissions. Finally, STEAM also contributes towards SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Inf making use of advanced operando characterization techniques which will deepen the understa behavior under operating conditions, thus accelerating the development of industrially rel technologies.
N.B. Funded by the European Union. Views and o are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the Europe European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority responsible for them.