Ionomer engineering for optimized water channels in industry-scale water electrolysis using non-noble metal catalyst

Qisheng Yan, Cheng Liu, Weihang Li, Kai Sun, Yilin Zhou, Ning Han, Wenzhe Niu, Jinyan Chen, Xiao Yang, Junfeng Chen, Yixiang He, Zhuorong Lu, Youyong Li and Bo Zhang ()
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Qisheng Yan: Fudan University, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science
Cheng Liu: Soochow University, Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM) and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices
Weihang Li: Fudan University, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science
Kai Sun: Fudan University, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science
Yilin Zhou: Fudan University, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science
Ning Han: Fudan University, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science
Wenzhe Niu: Fudan University, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science
Jinyan Chen: Fudan University, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science
Xiao Yang: Fudan University, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science
Junfeng Chen: Fudan University, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science
Yixiang He: Fudan University, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science
Zhuorong Lu: Fudan University, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science
Youyong Li: Soochow University, Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM) and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices
Bo Zhang: Fudan University, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Department of Macromolecular Science

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract The application of non-noble metal catalysts to replace high-cost iridium plays a critical role in the industrialization of proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE). However, the activity and stability of non-noble metal catalysts are unsatisfactory especially at high current densities. This can partially be attributed to the limited water channels of Nafion ionomer in the catalyst layer which impede proton hydrate transport, resulting in a low local pH and accelerating non-noble metal dissolution. We propose that introducing an amphiphilic-like CF3CF2CF2CH2OH molecule into Nafion ionomer (FOH-Nafion) via molecular engineering, optimizes the mass transfer of proton hydrates and therefore increase the stability of Co-based catalysts under high current densities. More dispersed and interleaved hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions of Nafion lead to efficient channels for proton hydrate transport. Such molecular engineering kept Co3O4 catalyst running over 270 h at 830 mA cm-2, about 4 times that of the pristine Nafion ionomer. The molecular engineering strategy for the water channel in catalyst layer provides a pathway to improve the performance of non-noble metal catalysts in PEMWE.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-64599-1

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