Investigation of a Short stack PEM Electrolyzer based on a Nanosized IrO_2 Anode Electrocatalyst

摘要

A short-stack PEM electrolyzer, consisting of 3 cells of 100 cm~2 geometrical area, was assembled and performed at 75 ℃ under atmospheric pressure. The MEAs were realized by using nanosized IrO_2, prepared by a sulfite-complex route, and a Pt/Vulcan X-72 electro-catalysts, as anodic and cathodic electrodes, respectively. After preliminary physico-chemical characterizations (XRD, XRF and TEM) of the IrO_2 catalyst, the short-stack performance was investigated by polarization, impedance spectroscopy and chrono-amperometric measurements. The amount of H_2 produced was 80 1-h~(-1)@ 60 A under 330 W of applied electrical power. The stack electrical efficiency at 60 A and 75 ℃ was 70 and 81% with respect to the low and high heating value of hydrogen, respectively.