Assessment of the FAA3-50 polymer electrolyte in combination with a NiMn2O4 anode catalyst for anion exchange membrane water electrolysis

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 45; no. 16; pp. 9285 - 9292
• Main Authors: Carbone, A., Zignani, S. Campagna, Gatto, I., Trocino, S., Aricò, A.S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 20.03.2020
• Subjects: Alkaline water electrolysis; Anionic exchange membrane; Durability test; NiMn2O4 catalyst; Alkaline water electrolysis; NiMn2O4 catalyst; Durability test; Anionic exchange membrane
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.01.150

A commercial FAA3-50 membrane was investigated as a solid polymer electrolyte in an alkaline water electrolysis. An improved chemical treatment based on alkaline KOH solution was carried out. A limited degradation of the functional groups was observed allowing to maintain a good anion conductivity approaching 55 mS cm-1 at 100 °C. Thermal stability up to 200 °C was assessed by thermal analysis. A specific membrane-electrodes assembly based on FAA3-50 anionic membrane and NiMn2O4 anode catalyst was developed and investigated in a single cell for water electrolysis at a moderate temperature (50 °C). Performance stability was assessed by a potential cycling-based durability test for 1000 h by varying the cell potential between 1 and 1.8 V for the FAA3-50 and NiMn2O4 based-MEA. According to this evaluation, both the FAA3-50 membrane and the NiMn2O4 catalyst appear sufficiently stable for electrolysis operation under mild operating temperatures. •A commercial FAA3-50 membrane was used as a solid polymer electrolyte in an alkaline water electrolysis.•An improved chemical treatment based on alkaline KOH solution was carried out.•A specific MEA based on FAA3-50 anionic membrane and NiMn2O4 anode catalyst was developed and tested.•Alkaline stability was assessed by a potential cycling-based durability test for 1000 h.