Review and Prospects of PEM Water Electrolysis at Elevated Temperature Operation

Abstract: Polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWE) are currently restricted to an operating temperature range between 50 to 80 °C. This review shows that elevated temperature (ET) above 90 °C can be advantageous with respect to i) reduced cell voltages, ii) a reduction of catalyst loading or possibly the employment of less noble electrocatalysts, and iii) a greater potential for waste heat utilization when the electrolyzer is operated in exothermal mode (when the cell voltage is higher than the thermoneutral voltage). Together with presenting an overview of the materials and components utilized in elevated temperature PEMWE under liquid and steam operation, this article summarizes the experimental and modeling performances reported to date, highlights the challenges ahead, and suggests aspects, which will need to be considered to improve the performance at elevated temperature. Key points, which arise from this work are the extensive need of re‐assessing the material selection both for the cell components and also at a system level, the effects and optimization of working with steam operation, and in the long run, the need for techno‐economic analyses to ultimately assess whether efficiency gains will truly translate to a cost‐effective technology alternative.

Location
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
Extent
Online-Ressource
Language
Englisch

Bibliographic citation
Review and Prospects of PEM Water Electrolysis at Elevated Temperature Operation ; day:18 ; month:12 ; year:2023 ; extent:25
Advanced Materials Technologies ; (18.12.2023) (gesamt 25)

Creator
Bonanno, Marco
Müller, Karsten
Bensmann, Boris
Hanke-Rauschenbach, Richard
Aili, David
Franken, Tanja
Chromik, Andreas
Peach, Retha
Freiberg, Anna T. S.
Thiele, Simon

DOI
10.1002/admt.202300281
URN
urn:nbn:de:101:1-2023121914104442258925
Rights
Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
Last update
15.08.2025, 7:30 AM CEST

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