Nickel‐based anodes in anion exchange membrane water electrolysis: a review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) is a promising technology for efficiently producing lowcost hydrogen (H 2 ). Of the two half-cell reactions in AEMWE, the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is kinetically sluggish, requiring an electrocatalyst to promote the reaction. Nickel (Ni) is a promising non-noble metal catalyst for OER due to its low cost, high stability, and activity in alkaline media. In an AEMWE, Ni particles form a catalytic layer bound together using an anion exchange ionomer (AEI), which also serves to provide hydroxide ion transport throughout the layer. RESULTS: In this review, reports of lab synthesized Ni particle-based anode catalytic layers with AEIs, used specifically in AEMWE devices, are summarized from 2015 onwards to highlight the recent research and development of active Ni-based AEMWE anodes. The synthesis and electrode fabrication method for the anodes is analyzed to offer a perspective on the feasibility of industrial scale AEMWE. As ionomeric binders are an important component of AEMWE anodes, the ionomer type and loading used with the Ni-based particles is also summarized with a focus on how those parameters affect catalytic performance. CONCLUSION:The literature analysis performed in this work demonstrates the potential of the AEMWE process and provides recommendations for future work on furthering the current understanding of the interactions between the various components of the system. Additionally, it is recommended that future research efforts be focused on further understanding how developed materials perform in a working AEMWE device.

Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Primary Alcohols at the Triple-Phase Boundary in an Anion-Exchange Membrane Reactor with Nickel, Cobalt, and Iron Catalysts

“…2,7,8 Transition metal species, such as Ni, Co, and Fe, are abundant on Earth and cost only 1/5000th that of iridium, an anode material commonly used in water electrolysis. 9 Consequently, they have been extensively investigated for use in alkaline and anion-exchange membrane (AEM) water electrolysis as promising anode catalysts to replace precious metals in practical applications. 10−14 Furthermore, they are known not only for their ability to facilitate the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) but also to oxidize primary alcohols and have been reported as catalysts for synthesizing various valuable products, such as benzoic acid, 15 furandicarboxylic acid, 16 and tartronic acid.…”

Investigation of Wet-Preparation Methods of Nickel Foam For Alkaline Water Electrolysis

“…Additionally, they also have the benefits of an alkaline environment enabling the use of inexpensive materials such as stainless steel/nickel in the cell casing/bipolar plates and the possibility of using non-platinum group metal catalysts [2,4,8]. The activity of various types of catalyst materials on nickel foam has been ubiquitously studied [8][9][10][11][12], where some also include investigations into the associated stability [8,9]. However, the importance of the substrate material itself has been understated with respect to optimisation, stability, and importance [7,13].…”

Effects of cation vacancies at tetrahedral sites in cobalt spinel oxides on oxygen evolution catalysis

“…[4][5][6][7] Nickel-based materials exhibit high OER catalytic activity in alkaline electrolyzers. 8 Besides nickel, it is still necessary to develop other transition metal-based catalysts for further enhancement of the catalytic activity. Cobalt spinel oxide Co 3 O 4 has been reported as a highly active catalyst for OER in alkaline solutions.…”

“…4–7 Nickel-based materials exhibit high OER catalytic activity in alkaline electrolyzers. 8 Besides nickel, it is still necessary to develop other transition metal-based catalysts for further enhancement of the catalytic activity.…”