Numerical Investigation of PEM Water Electrolysis Performance for Different Oxygen Evolution Electrocatalysts

Abstract One of the hydrogen production methods, namely the proton exchange membrane water electrolyzer (PEMWE), shows good potential and agreement with renewable energy sources in the storage and conversion of energy. In this study, the effects of different anode catalyst materials on the performance of PEMWE are investigated. In line with this aim the temperature, membrane thickness, current collector length and molar fraction distribution of species in gas channels are investigated to observe and compare the effects of different anode catalyst. The cell performance is simulated with a two dimensional numerical model based on Comsol Multiphysics Software. The performance of the cell and hydrogen production are increased with the change of temperature from 303 K to 353 K. Different thickness of the membrane is investigated and the results bring out that use of thinner membrane is more important for Pt‐Ir anode catalyst than Pt anode catalyst. Additionally, Pt‐Ir anode catalyst is decreased cell voltage and provided four times higher current density. Maximum value of hydrogen molar fraction in the cathode gas channel is increased 60%.