Bottlenecks in Water Electrolysis: A Comprehensive Exploration for Hydrogen Production

In this chapter, we comprehensively explore the bottlenecks that hinder efficient hydrogen production through water electrolysis. Various challenges related to membrane use in electrolysis, including selectivity, durability, and performance limitations, are discussed. The chapter also highlights the problems related to metal corrosion, which can cause degradation of the catalyst surface and decrease the catalytic activity. The mechanism behind the structural instability of electrocatalysts, including phase transformation, dissolution, and agglomerations, has been explored. Furthermore, the chapter provides a detailed analysis of particle agglomeration's thermodynamics and kinetics and electrocatalysts' mechanical strength. Finally, the chapter sheds light on the degradation of the support structure, which often affects the stability of electrocatalysts.