PEM water electrolyzers: From electrocatalysis to stack development

Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) water electrolysis can be used to produce hydrogen from renewable energy sources and can contribute to reduce CO 2 emissions. The purpose of this paper is to report on recent advances made in PEM water electrolysis technology. Results obtained in electrocatalysis (recent progresses made in low-cost electrocatalysis offer new perspectives for decentralized and domestic applications), on low-cost membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs), cell efficiency, operation at high current density, electrochemical performances and gas purity issues during high-pressure operation, safety considerations, stack design and optimization (for electrolyzers which can produce up to 5 Nm 3 H 2/h) and performance degradations are presented. These results were obtained in the course of the GenHyPEM project, a 39 months long (2005–2008) research program supported by the European Commission. PEM technology has reached a level of maturity and performances which offers new perspectives in view of the so-called hydrogen economy.