New breakthrough by Chinese team makes green hydrogen cheaper, easier

Chinese researchers have pioneered a novel technique.

A team of researchers from several Chinese institutions has developed a groundbreaking method that allows proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers to function effectively using impure water. This innovation promises to reduce costs and simplify the deployment of hydrogen production infrastructure in real-world conditions, Caliber.Az reports per Interesting Engineering.

As countries shift towards cleaner energy sources, solar and wind power have seen rapid growth. However, these renewable sources often struggle to meet the demands of high-power applications such as heavy-duty vehicles or critical backup power for data centers and hospitals. Hydrogen, generated by splitting water molecules, offers a promising solution. Through electrolysis, water is separated into hydrogen and oxygen, and when powered by renewable energy, this process becomes environmentally friendly. Yet, widespread use of electrolyzers faces challenges, especially due to the need for ultrapure water in many systems.

Traditional alkaline electrolyzers, though widely used, produce hydrogen that falls short of the purity needed for fuel cells. PEM electrolyzers, on the other hand, generate higher purity hydrogen by allowing only protons to pass, but they require ultrapure water to avoid rapid degradation from contaminants.

The Chinese research team, including experts from Tianjin University, tackled this limitation by engineering an acidic microenvironment inside the PEM electrolyzer’s cathode. They incorporated Bronsted acid oxide (MoO3-x) into the platinum-carbon cathode, which acts as a catalyst to locally lower pH, boosting electrolyzer performance even when using impure water.

Their approach was validated through advanced measurement techniques, showing the PEM’s resilience over extended use with tap water. “PEM electrolyzers typically use ultrapure water as a feedstock because trace contaminants in feedwater, especially cationic impurities, can cause their failure,” the team noted.

Operating the system continuously for over 3,000 hours at industry-standard current densities, the researchers achieved performance on par with systems using ultrapure water.

This breakthrough could dramatically expand the use of PEM electrolyzers for affordable green hydrogen production, accelerating the shift towards sustainable energy worldwide.

By Naila Huseynova