High Ionic Strength Electrolyte for Improved Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis Performance

Abstract

An electrochemical electrolyzer device includes a cathode including a hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalyst and an anode spaced apart from the cathode, the anode including an oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalyst. An anion exchange membrane (AEM) is disposed between the cathode and the anode. An anolyte having a hydroxide ion concentration is disposed against the anode and has a cation concentration that exceeds the hydroxide ion concentration in the anolyte. In a method of operating an electrochemical electrolyzer device that employs a cathode for producing hydrogen, an anode for producing oxygen and being spaced apart from the cathode, an anion exchange membrane (AEM) disposed between the cathode and the anode, an anolyte having a cation concentration that exceeds hydroxide ion concentration in the anolyte is placed against the anode.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.