A New Semi-Empirical Method of Quantifying Electrolyzer Degradation

Abstract

Electrolyzers are a key component in transitioning the world’s reliance on fossil fuels for energy. Accordingly, a substantial influence on electrolyzer costs is operational efficiency. The means of quantifying this efficiency is necessary for sustaining the continuous improvement of this technology.Polarization curves are a critical tool in understanding the behavior and mechanisms of electrochemical devices such as electrolyzers and fuel cells. In this work, a semi-empirical voltage-breakdown method is used to model and identify a series of resistance levels and voltage losses. This model presents the modes of change in electrolyzer performance. Polarization curves are taken at several temperature and time intervals throughout steady state operation. The unique benefit of this method is that no potentiostat is required and that key parameters, such as the Tafel slope and ohmic resistance, are compared to more direct measurements.Presented here, is a user-friendly technique of evaluating the degradation of an electrolyzer over the course of its lifetime. More specifically, it provides insight on the durability of cell components such as membrane, gas diffusion layers, and catalyst layers.