Reference Electrodes in Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis

Previous Approaches, Current Application, and Perspectives

authored by

Lena V. Bühre, Boris Bensmann, Richard Hanke-Rauschenbach

Abstract

The commercialization of proton exchange membrane water electrolysis cells (PEMWEs), which are essential for a greener and more sustainable future, is hindered by the high costs of noble metal catalysts, as well as the degradation of the catalysts and membranes. Examining the electrodes’ characteristics with reference electrodes (REs) yields insights into their individual performance and can, e.g., help assess new catalyst layer designs, their interplay with the adjacent porous transport layer, or understand the complex and multi-faceted degradation mechanisms. This review provides an overview of previous approaches and the evolution of RE designs in PEMWE. By discussing the strengths and limitations of different RE setups, readers are enabled to make more informed decisions about their experiments’ design and choose the best RE setup for their specific research question.

Organisation(s)

Institute of Electric Power Systems
Section Electrical Energy Storage Systems

Type

Review article

Journal

Journal of the Electrochemical Society

Volume

171

No. of pages

12

ISSN

0013-4651

Publication date

29.05.2024

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment, Condensed Matter Physics, Surfaces, Coatings and Films, Electrochemistry, Materials Chemistry

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1149/1945-7111/ad44dd (Access: Open)