The Role of Electrocatalysts in the Development of Gigawatt-Scale PEM Electrolyzers

Electrocatalysts are nanomaterials of paramount importance within water electrolyzers, because they facilitate the electron transfer between reactants and electrode, enabling the chemical transformation of water into hydrogen and oxygen. In this Perspective, recent findings in electrocatalyst development for the next generation of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) water electrolyzers at scale are discussed. We discuss opportunities to create catalyst architectures, the importance to demonstrate electrode manufacturing tools, and how useful advanced characterization methods shall, in the short term, allow large-scale deployment of water splitting devices with higher efficiency, acceptable durability, and low cost. We envision next-generation PEM cells permitting a transformational change in the chemical industry by the manufacturing of low-cost hydrogen.