Anion Conductive Polymers for Alkaline Electrolyzers and Fue

Hydrogen gas is an important energy carrier and a critical part of a ‘greener’ world with lower carbon dioxide emission and energy independence from fossil fuels. Hydrogen can be used as the fuel in a fuel cell to produce electricity, as shown at left (top). In an alkaline fuel cell, oxygen (air) and hydrogen gas are fed to the fuel cell and electricity and water are produced. Hydroxide ions migrate from the air cathode to the hydrogen anode. The water consumed at the cathode diffuses from the anode where it is produced to the cathode. 

Hydrogen can be produced by water electrolysis, as shown at left (bottom). An electrolyzer is essentially a fuel cell operating in reverse where water and electrical energy are converted into hydrogen and oxygen gas. The hydrogen and oxygen gases can be used in chemical synthesis, such as in the manufacturer of ammonia and fertilizers, or can be used in a fuel cell or combustion engine. Hydrogen produced from renewable energy is a path toward eliminating carbon dioxide emissions. 

 Fuel cells and electrolyzers operating under high pH, alkaline conditions have fundamental advantages compared to traditional cells operating at low pH. Non-precious metal catalysts and hydrocarbon-based solid polymer electrolytes can be used at high pH rather than platinum group metals (PGM) and perfluorinated polymer electrolytes which are required at low pH. The elimination of perfluorinated polymers and removal of PGM based catalysts significantly lowers the electrolyzer and fuel cell balance of plant.