Investigations on electrode configurations for anion exchange membrane electrolysis

Investigations on configurations and properties of the electrode in the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) of an electrolyzer using an anion exchange membrane (AEM) were performed based on an experimental study using a small single electrolysis cell. First, two different configurations of the catalyst layer (CL) for the MEA were prepared using commercially available materials: a catalyst-coated membrane (CCM) and a catalyst-coated substrate (CCS). Experimental electrolysis results revealed that the electrode configuration appropriate for the MEA of AEM electrolyzers is CCM-cathode and CCS-anode. Then, the effect of electrode properties (catalyst loading and binder content in CLs) on electrolysis performance was examined experimentally, revealing an optimal range of catalyst loading and binder content. [GRAPHICS] .