Polymer electrolyte membrane electrolysis

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis is the electrolysis of water in a cell equipped with a solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) that is responsible for the conduction of protons, separation of product gases, and electrical insulation of the electrodes. The PEM electrolyzer was introduced to overcome the issues of partial load, low current density, and low pressure operation currently plaguing the alkaline electrolyzer. 2 H 2 O ( l ) ⟶ O 2 ( g ) + 4 H + ( aq ) + 4 e − {displaystyle {ce {2 H2O (l) -> O2 (g) + 4H+ (aq) + 4 e^-}}} Proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis is the electrolysis of water in a cell equipped with a solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) that is responsible for the conduction of protons, separation of product gases, and electrical insulation of the electrodes. The PEM electrolyzer was introduced to overcome the issues of partial load, low current density, and low pressure operation currently plaguing the alkaline electrolyzer. However, a recent scientific comparison showed that state-of-the-art alkaline water electrolysis shows competitive or even better efficiencies than PEM water electrolysis. This comparison moreover showed that many of the advantages such as gas purities or high current densities that were ascribed to PEM water electrolysis are also achievable by alkaline water electrolysis. Electrolysis is an important technology for the production of hydrogen to be used as an energy carrier.