Reinforced Poly(arylene quinuclidinium) Membranes for Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis
摘要
Anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) synergize the kinetic merits of alkaline systems, zero-gap configurations and compatibility with non-noble metal catalysts, offering a promising pathway toward green hydrogen production. Nevertheless, practical exploitation was hindered by critical challenges: inferior alkaline stability, insufficient mechanical integrity, and detrimental hydrogen crossover of anion exchange membranes (AEMs), which compromise both device durability and operational safety. Here, we engineered a porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE)-reinforced poly(arylene quinuclidinium) membrane that enhances AEM mechanical robustness, prevents stress-induced rupture, and suppresses hydrogen crossover during electrolyzer operation. Specifically, the reinforced poly(arylene quinuclidinium) membrane (R-PTPQui) exhibited a tensile strength of 56 MPa and an elongation at break of 55%. Moreover, it effectively reduced hydrogen permeation in the electrolyzer, achieving an extremely low H2-to-O2 (HTO) value of 0.44 vol% at 0.1 A·cm−2. The R-PTPQui-based electrolyzer achieved a high current density of 4.9 A·cm−2 at 2.0 V and a Faradaic efficiency of 98.6% using a non-precious anode catalyst. These advances significantly strength the compatibility of poly(arylene quinuclidinium)-based AEMs for industrial-scale green hydrogen generation.