A comprehensive review of recent advances in alkaline water electrolysis for hydrogen production

Green hydrogen is typically produced by water electrolysis. In this process, water is split into hydrogen and oxygen by an electric current. Different technologies exist to produce hydrogen by electrolysis, including the four best recognized: Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM), Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell (SOEC), Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) and Alkaline Water Electrolysis (AWE). While the latter two are commercially available, SOEC shows promise for efficient hydrogen production, and AEM combines advantages from both AWE and PEM systems. However, the most mature technology remains the most mature and cost-effective technology for industrial and large-scale hydrogen production. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in alkaline water electrolysis (A-WE) for hydrogen production, including a comparative assessment of the four commonly used electrolysis technologies. The paper covers the current status, recent research advances, and commercialization challenges of A-WE technology, offering insight into its potential and outlining future research directions.