Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Electrodes Using Highly Dispersed Ionomer Solutions for Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis

Abstract

Green hydrogen production is importance in the upcoming hydrogen economy era. Proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis is one of the most important technology to produce the green hydrogen that requires only water and extra electricity supplied from renewable energy. Large amount of hydrogen production and low production cost is most important for hydrogen economy and we need to find out how to decrease hydrogen production cost, which can be come true with high performance and high durability of the component of PEM water electrolysis. The hydrogen production rate is affected by performance of the HER electrode and production cost is affected by material cost and durability of electrode in the PEM water electrolysis. HER electrode is composed of an electrocatalyst (Pt/C) and proton conducting ionomer (PFSI), among them, proton conducting ionomer directly affects to the performance and durability of the electrode. So, designing of the electrode structures through ionomers is essential. In this study, for reduction of hydrogen production cost, highly dispersed ionomers were developed. Effect of dispersing solvents for ionomer on the performance and durability of catalyst layers was investigated. Developed ionomer dispersion shows higher performance and durability in the PEM water electrolysis, which result was made by the electrochemical characterization such as I-V polarization, voltage increasing rate during durability test, and so on as well as the microscopic characterization such as SEM and TEM were carried out to evaluate the effect of ionomer dispersions on the performance and durability of HER electrode in PEM water electrolysis. Acknowledgments This research was supported in part by the Hydrogen Energy Innovation Technology Development Program of the National Research Foundation (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT ＆ Future Planning (NRF-2019M3E6A1063677) and by 2021 Green Convergence Professional Manpower Training Program of the Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute funded by the Ministry of Environment.