Activation of stainless steel 316L anode for anion exchange membrane water electrolysis

S. Nuggehalli Sampathkumar; T.B. Ferriday; P.H. Middleton; J. Van Herle

Electrochemistry Communications (Jan 2023)

Activation of stainless steel 316L anode for anion exchange membrane water electrolysis

S. Nuggehalli Sampathkumar,
T.B. Ferriday,
P.H. Middleton,
J. Van Herle

Affiliations

S. Nuggehalli Sampathkumar: Group of Energy Materials, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne, Rue de l’Industrie 17, Sion, 1951 Valais, Switzerland; Corresponding author.
T.B. Ferriday: Group of Energy Materials, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne, Rue de l’Industrie 17, Sion, 1951 Valais, Switzerland; Department of Engineering Science, University of Agder, Jon Lilletunsvei 9, Grimstad, 4879 Agder, Norway
P.H. Middleton: Group of Energy Materials, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne, Rue de l’Industrie 17, Sion, 1951 Valais, Switzerland; Department of Engineering Science, University of Agder, Jon Lilletunsvei 9, Grimstad, 4879 Agder, Norway
J. Van Herle: Group of Energy Materials, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne, Rue de l’Industrie 17, Sion, 1951 Valais, Switzerland

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 146
p. 107418

Abstract

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The increased emphasis on renewable energy has resulted in a surge of R&D efforts into hydrogen and battery research. The intensive electrochemical environment surrounding the anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) has plagued both the activity and stability of the catalytic layer, substrate and porous transport layer, ultimately affecting both these industries. Herein, we report the benefits of potential cycling (PC) a 316L stainless steel felt porous transport layer (PTL) for use in anion exchange membrane water electrolysis. The PC increased surface roughness and created a CrFe5Ni2-OxHy layer through the oxidation of iron as shown by SEM, EDS, XPS, XRD and Raman spectroscopy. Post-PC tests in a three-electrode setup reveal a ≈ 68% decline in polarisation resistance, which is reflected in its performance when employed as an anode in an anion exchange membrane water electrolyser (AEMWE). Overall, potential cycling the PTL under anodic conditions resulted in an improved performance when tested in a AEMWE. Implementing this treatment on stainless steel anodes could be considered to achieve an improved AEMWE performance.

Published in Electrochemistry Communications

ISSN: 1388-2481 (Print); 1873-1902 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Technology: Chemical technology: Industrial electrochemistry; Science: Chemistry
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/electrochemistry-communications

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