Analysis and Study on Polarization during Water Electrolysis Hydrogen Production

During a time of high energy consumption, water electrolysis is currently one of the alternative energy sources. At low voltages and low concentrations where activation and concentration polarizations are most dominant, the polarization effects are most significant and the electrolysis is most inefficient. Whereas at high voltages and high concentrations, the activation and concentration polarizations will quickly diminish, producing better electrolysis results. We can see from the empirical data that when the electrode distance is 2 mm and the electrolyte is 30 wt% KOH, a shorter electrode distance with an appropriate actual electrolysis voltage will produce lower polarization impedance values and hence the best efficiency in electrolysis. This study used electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to detect relevant data on resistance. Applying it in the field of water electrolysis can provide another method to detect and clarify the phenomenon of polarization and impedance.