Issue 18, 2025

Accelerated degradation of Pt-coated Ti porous transport layers under dynamic potential pulses in PEMWEs

Abstract

Proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers are vital for sustainable hydrogen production, but a lack of understanding of their durability under potential perturbation presents a significant challenge. This study investigates the degradation behavior of Pt-coated Ti-based porous transport layers (PTLs) under dynamic potential pulses, mimicking potential perturbation. Using a three-electrode system, anodic potential pulses alternating with open-circuit voltage are applied to the PTL, revealing severe degradation compared to constant potential application. The pulsed potential accelerates Pt dissolution through repeated electrochemical and chemical reactions, forming oxidized Pt species and causing coating detachment. Physicochemical analyses confirm increased Pt oxide formation and substantial coating layer desorption under pulsed conditions, resulting in a significant drop in electrical conductivity. PEMWE full-cell tests demonstrate that degraded PTLs led to increased overpotentials and reduced cell performance. This study highlights the critical impact of fluctuating potential on PTL durability, providing insights into enhancing the stability and performance of the water electrolyzer.

Graphical abstract: Accelerated degradation of Pt-coated Ti porous transport layers under dynamic potential pulses in PEMWEs

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
06 Feb 2025
Accepted
31 Mar 2025
First published
01 Apr 2025
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2025,13, 13495-13502

Accelerated degradation of Pt-coated Ti porous transport layers under dynamic potential pulses in PEMWEs

J. Lee, S. Nam, H. Kim, P. Lee, S. Yoon, Y. Park and W. Jung, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2025, 13, 13495 DOI: 10.1039/D5TA00960J

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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