Self-adhesive ionomers for durable low-temperature anion exchange membrane electrolysis

Low-temperature water electrolysis using an anion conductive polymer electrolyte has several potential advantages over other technologies, however, the fabrication of durable alkaline electrodes remains a challenge. Detachment of catalysts results in the loss of electrochemical surface area. Simple mixtures of ionomer and catalyst can suffer from poor catalyst adhesion because only physical adhesion is used to bind the components together. A family of chemically bonded, self-adherent, hydroxide conducting ionomers were synthesized and tested under alkaline electrolysis conditions with nickel ferrite anode electrocatalysts and platinum-nickel cathode catalyst. The ionomers are based on hydroxide conducting poly(norbornene) polymers used as the solid polymer electrolyte in alkaline fuel cells and electrolyzers. The synthesized terpolymer ionomers have been functionalized to provide pendant sites for covalent chemical bonding of bis(phenyl)-A-diglycidyl ether to the ionomer, catalyst, and porous transport layer. The electrodes show excellent adhesion between the catalyst particles, porous transport layer and ionomer, as determined by adhesion measurements and electrolysis performance. The AEM electrolyzer had stable voltage performance under high current density (1 A/cm2 at 1.83 V (67% voltage efficiency)) for extended time periods (>600 h) without degradation.