Application of Nickel Foam As a Porous Transport Layer in a Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzer

The efficiency and the performance of membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) of the anion exchange membrane (AEM) water electrolyzer is determined to a significant degree by the properties of the materials used as porous transport layers (PTLs). Due to the high surface roughness, porosity, and pore size, the direct use of Ni foam as an electrode material is difficult, and its preliminary compression is required, which irreversibly affects the electrode structure. In the presented work, the effect of Ni foam compression on the structure of an electrode based on it, as well as on the AEM water electrolyzer MEA is considered, including the distribution of voltage losses. The effect of the compression degree on the Ni-foam electrode structure and the performance of the AEM water electrolyzer MEA is considered. The optimal electrode compression provides a significant decrease in the loss of microporous layer particles and catalyst layer nanoparticles in deep surface voids of the PTL, and the development of an interface between the nanostructured catalyst layer and the electrode.