AEM Porous Transport Layer and Bipolar Plate
Porous transport layer (PTL), also known as gas/liquid diffusion layer and current collector, is located between the bipolar plate and the catalyst layer. It mainly plays the role of electrolyte, gas transmission, electron and heat conduction. In PEM electrolyzers, due to the high potential, oxygen-rich and strong acidic environment on the anode side, expensive titanium-based material PTL is often used. In AEM electrolyzers, due to the weak alkaline conditions, the anode PTL usually uses cheap nickel foam, and the cathode can use nickel foam or carbon cloth, which greatly reduces the cost.
Recent studies have shown that PTL plays a key role in the electrolytic performance of AEM. Therefore, it is very important to study PTL with high electrical and thermal conductivity, strong gas repellency/hydrophilicity, good mechanical properties and high corrosion resistance. At present, the research mainly focuses on the optimization of PTL morphology and porosity, and the development of new materials. In addition, the thermal management of the electrolyzer can be optimized and the electrolytic performance can be further improved through the study of heat and mass transfer in the electrolyzer.
Bipolar plates are multifunctional components in water electrolyzers. Their main functions are to connect adjacent cells in the stack, ensure the transfer of charge carriers between adjacent cells, supply reactants (H2O) and remove gaseous products (H2 and O2), and provide mechanical support for collectors, membranes and electrodes. In addition, bipolar plates also play an important role in heat transfer and water management. In PEM electrolyzers, due to the harsh environment of strong acidity, BP still needs to use expensive Ti plates to ensure thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance and chemical stability. In AEM electrolysis, BP that currently inherits ALK electrolysis technology is mainly made of nickel-plated stainless steel.
It is worth noting that the cost of bipolar plates accounts for 50% of the total cost of electrolyzers. With the development of pure water AEM electrolysis technology, lower-cost BP can be designed to further reduce the overall cost of AEM electrolyzers and improve competitive advantages. In addition, as the transmission port of electrolytes and gases, the study of heat and mass transfer of bipolar plates is very important. In PEMWE, some studies have rationally designed different flow channel structures such as parallel flow field, single serpentine flow field, multi-serpentine flow field, etc., and some studies have analyzed the influence of channel height, blockage, ridge width, flow channel boundary, etc. through flow channel modeling, aiming to find the optimal flow channel structure and parameters to minimize flow resistance, timely discharge hydrogen and oxygen produced by electrolysis reaction, reduce mass transfer resistance, and reduce voltage loss. These studies provide ideas for the design of efficient BP in AEM electrolysis.
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