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Design principles for water dissociation catalysts in high-performance bipolar membranes

Author

Listed:
  • Lihaokun Chen

    (University of Oregon)

  • Qiucheng Xu

    (University of Oregon
    Technical University of Denmark)

  • Sebastian Z. Oener

    (University of Oregon
    Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society)

  • Kevin Fabrizio

    (University of Oregon)

  • Shannon W. Boettcher

    (University of Oregon)

Abstract

Water dissociation (WD, H2O → H+ + OH−) is the core process in bipolar membranes (BPMs) that limits energy efficiency. Both electric-field and catalytic effects have been invoked to describe WD, but the interplay of the two and the underlying design principles for WD catalysts remain unclear. Using precise layers of metal-oxide nanoparticles, membrane-electrolyzer platforms, materials characterization, and impedance analysis, we illustrate the role of electronic conductivity in modulating the performance of WD catalysts in the BPM junction through screening and focusing the interfacial electric field and thus electrochemical potential gradients. In contrast, the ionic conductivity of the same layer is not a significant factor in limiting performance. BPM water electrolyzers, optimized via these findings, use ~30-nm-diameter anatase TiO2 as an earth-abundant WD catalyst, and generate O2 and H2 at 500 mA cm−2 with a record-low total cell voltage below 2 V. These advanced BPMs might accelerate deployment of new electrodialysis, carbon-capture, and carbon-utilization technology.

Suggested Citation

  • Lihaokun Chen & Qiucheng Xu & Sebastian Z. Oener & Kevin Fabrizio & Shannon W. Boettcher, 2022. "Design principles for water dissociation catalysts in high-performance bipolar membranes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-31429-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31429-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jakob Kibsgaard & Ib Chorkendorff, 2019. "Considerations for the scaling-up of water splitting catalysts," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 4(6), pages 430-433, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ziang Xu & Lei Wan & Yiwen Liao & Maobin Pang & Qin Xu & Peican Wang & Baoguo Wang, 2023. "Continuous ammonia electrosynthesis using physically interlocked bipolar membrane at 1000 mA cm−2," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Xiaojie She & Lingling Zhai & Yifei Wang & Pei Xiong & Molly Meng-Jung Li & Tai-Sing Wu & Man Chung Wong & Xuyun Guo & Zhihang Xu & Huaming Li & Hui Xu & Ye Zhu & Shik Chi Edman Tsang & Shu Ping Lau, 2024. "Pure-water-fed, electrocatalytic CO2 reduction to ethylene beyond 1,000 h stability at 10 A," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 81-91, January.

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