ABSTRACT
Water electrolysis, coupled with hydrogen transport and storage, presents a promising approach for storing and distributing substantial amounts of renewable energy. However, integrating intermittent renewable energy sources with established alkaline water electrolysis technology poses challenges. Proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) shows promise, but its progress is hindered by the reliance on expensive platinum and iridium catalysts. Anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) emerges as a viable solution, combining the use of affordable and abundant catalyst materials with the advantages offered by PEMWE. These advantages include a small footprint, high operational capacity, and rapid response to changing operating conditions. The pivotal component for AEMWE is a cost-effective, durable, gas-tight, and highly hydroxide-conductive polymeric AEM. In this section, we begin by providing an overview of the fundamental structure and operational principles of AEM water electrolyzers. We then delve into the key parameters used to assess the performance of AEMs, review some of the leading advancements in AEMs for hydrolysis, and explore the decay mechanism associated with these membranes. Finally, we discuss the challenges faced by AEM electrolysis and present future prospects in this field.
