Anode-pressurized water electrolysis with modulated anion exchange membrane architecture

Anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers present a promising approach to cost-effective green H2 generation, whereas integration of alkaline media and dry-cathode conditions intrinsically forbids adequate H2O/OH- conduction for efficient operation at high current densities. Herein, we develop a quinuclidinium-functionalized membrane possessing a modulated nano-porous architecture, and exploit its synergy with regulated configuration featuring an anode-to-cathode pressure gradient. By facilitating H2O permeation across interconnected hydrophilic nano-channels, a performance of 11.2 A·cm−2 at 2 V and 90 °C is realized using a NiFe anode, while sufficient membrane robustness and durability enable 2000 h operation at 1 A·cm−2 with suppressed decay of <1 μV·h−1. The narrowed (1-2 nm) gas avenues coordinate with applied pressure gradient to mitigate H2 crossover, improving adaptability to various static-dynamic scenarios. An encouraging levelized cost of H2 of 1.8 $·kg−1 unveils the promise for up-scaled deployment, and this proposed membrane-condition collaboration advances to innovate next-generation energy technologies. Water electrolysis crucially converts fluctuating renewables to green hydrogen. Here, the authors collaborate architecture modulation of anion exchange membrane and pressure configuration design, realizing compatibly improved electrochemical performance and operational flexibility.