# US 12,601,069 B2 · Membrane electrode assembly for hydrogen production, electrochemical cell comprising the same, and method for hydrogen production using the same

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- Number: US 12,601,069 B2
- Document ID: US12601069B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/955,621
- Filed: 2024-11-21
- Published: 2025-10-09
- Granted: 2026-04-14
- Earliest claimed: 2024-04-03
- Assignees: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
- Applicants: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
- Inventors: Hyun S. Park; Jong Hyun Jang; Jihyun Choi; Chaekyung Baik; Jimin Kong; Hyuntae Sohn
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12601069B2

## CPC

- C25B 9/23: comprising ion-exchange membranes in or on which electrode material is embedded
- C25B 1/02: Hydrogen or oxygen
- C25B 1/04: by electrolysis of water
- C25B 11/081: the element being a noble metal
- C25B 15/02: Process control or regulation
- C25B 15/08: Supplying or removing reactants or electrolytes; Regeneration of electrolytes
- Y02E 60/36: Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
- C25B: ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR (anodic or cathodic protection C23F13/00; single-crystal growth C30B)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

This specification relates to a membrane electrode assembly for hydrogen production, an electrochemical cell comprising the same, and a method for hydrogen production using the same. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the membrane electrode assembly for hydrogen production, the electrochemical cell comprising the same, and the method for hydrogen production using the same can improve ammonia electrolysis durability by preventing performance degradation due to catalyst poisoning and restoring the performance.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for hydrogen production, comprising the steps of:
delivering ammonia to an anode of the electrochemical cell for hydrogen production;
oxidizing the ammonia at the anode to decompose it into water, nitrogen, and electrons;
transferring the electrons from the anode to a cathode; and
producing substantially pure hydrogen by the electrons at the cathode, and
further comprising the step of performing pulse operation by applying a constant voltage to the anode by a current-voltage control device,
after performing the pulse operation, further comprising the step of circulating and injecting a poisoning removal solution that prevents poisoning of the anode catalyst into the anode by a cycling injection device,
wherein the pulse operation is repeatedly performed when an average potential of the electrochemical cell for hydrogen production is in the range of 0.5V to 0.9V and −1.0V to 0V,
wherein the electrochemical cell comprises a membrane electrode assembly comprises:
an anion exchange membrane;
a cathode located on one side of the anion exchange membrane; and
an anode located on the other side of the anion exchange membrane,
wherein the anode includes an alkaline electrolyte containing an aqueous ammonia solution and an anode catalyst, and
further comprising a current-voltage control device that performs pulse operation by applying a constant voltage to the anode.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method for hydrogen production according to claim 1,
wherein the anode catalyst is a catalyst for ammonia oxidation reaction (AOR), and
the anode catalyst contains one or more metals selected from the group consisting of platinum (Pt), iridium (Ir), rhodium (Rh), ruthenium (Ru), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), and copper (Cu).

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method for hydrogen production according to claim 1,
wherein the pulse operation is repeatedly performed when an average potential of the electrochemical cell for hydrogen production is in a positive voltage range and a negative voltage range.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method for hydrogen production according to claim 1,
wherein the pulse operation is repeatedly performed for 10 to 30 seconds when an average potential of the electrochemical cell for hydrogen production is in the range of 0.5V to 0.9V, and is repeatedly performed for 5 to 15 seconds when the average potential is in the range of −1.0V to 0V.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method for hydrogen production according claim 1,
wherein the poisoning removal solution is basic, neutral, or acidic and does not contain ammonia.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method for hydrogen production according to claim 1,
wherein the step of performing the pulse operation is performed one or more times.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method for hydrogen production according to claim 1,
wherein the step of performing the pulse operation and the step of circulating and injecting the poisoning removal solution are performed one or more times.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method for hydrogen production according to claim 1,
further comprising the step of applying a cycling voltage to the anode by the current-voltage control device after the step of circulating and injecting the poisoning removal solution,
wherein the cycling voltage includes a negative reduction voltage.