MeGaCAM-Mechanistic Understanding of Gas Crossover in AEM Water Electrolysis for the Development of Safe Pressurized Electrolyzers

Hydrogen has the potential to play a pivotal role in the future decarbonization of industry, transport, and energy systems. Achieving the targeted expansion of electrolysis technology for efficient hydrogen production requires significant advancements. Anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) combines the compact design, including high power density, of proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis with the use of cost-effective and robust materials of alkaline water electrolysis (AEL), making it another promising technology for the future cost-effective production of green hydrogen. As with the other electrolysis technologies, gas crossover through the thin membrane represents an ongoing challenge for AEM electrolyzers. In addition to efficiency losses and degradation phenomena, this can have a negative impact on operational safety, especially through the formation of explosive gas mixtures.

The project "MeGaCAM – Mechanistic Understanding of Gas Crossover in AEM Water Electrolysis for the Development of Safe Pressure Electrolyzers" is carried out in collaboration with Leibniz University Hannover (LUH) and aims to provide a validated, mechanistic description of various transport phenomena (such as diffusive, convective, electroosmotic, and recombination processes) that influence gas permeation. In addition, first practical strategies to mitigate these phenomena are identified in order to address the technical challenges for safe and efficient operation of AEM electrolyzers under increased pressure.

The research group at ICVT aims to develop a universal test bench system suitable for precise measurement of cell performance and gas crossover under high-pressure operation. In addition, complex interactions between material structure, membrane behavior, operating conditions, and gas crossover are experimentally investigated, forming a central basis for modeling and validation.