Recent Advances in Bipolar Membrane Design and Applications

Integration of bipolar membranes (BPMs) into electrochemical cells is an established method for acid and base generation, as well as desalinization methods. More recently, BPMs have been recognized for their ability to control the environment of half-reactions, including the maintenance of a pH gradient, without significant loss in efficiency. Over the past few years, significant advances have been made in BPM design, resulting in rapid deployment of BPMs into a wide range of applications, from mineral extraction, to energy storage and conversion frameworks, to ionotronics. Here, we explore the fundamentals of BPM operation and recent methods that have improved the performance and stability of BPMs and provide an overview of the limitations inherent to current BPM-based technologies, with a focus on future directions. Finally, we highlight research areas where BPM integration has enhanced, or is essential for, device operation, showing the versatility, potential, and broad range of research areas impacted by BPMs.