Operando X-ray Microtomography of Catalyst Coated Membrane Degradation in a Miniature Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyser

Anion exchange membrane (AEM) water electrolysers have the potential to lower hydrogen production costs, but their poor durability holds them back from commercialisation. Catalyst detachment from the AEM is one of the main causes of the poor durability and is the result of poorly understood ionomer degradation. Catalyst detachment is a process only observable in-situ and is impossible to distinguish from other degradation processes by electrochemical measurements alone. This proposed experiment will observe, for the first time, how catalyst adhesion is impacted by the choice of electrolyser feed solution using operando X-ray microtomography (μ-CT) at ID19. Fast μ-CT scans will enable correlation of the observable changes in the cell with changes in voltage and resistance. Understanding how the feed solution affects the catalyst layer will aid in the development of more durable AEM electrolysers.