Improving the performance of proton exchange membrane water electrolyzer by interrupted operation: investigation of reversible degradation o

It is consistently observed that switching the IrxOy catalyzed PEM water electrolyzer (PEMWE) off and on again tends to improve the overall performance when compared to steady-state operation. This effect, oftentimes referred to as reversible degradation, is not yet well understood and can have significant practical implications. In the proposed experiment we aim to probe the proton exchange membrane water electrolyzer (PEMWE) single cell by high energy wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) during various interrupted operational profiles to clarify the origin of this unusual behavior.