On the contamination of membrane–electrode assembles of water electrolyzers with solid polymer electrolyte by the elements of titanium alloys

Abstract

The aspects of contamination of membrane–electrode assemblies of water electrolyzers with solid polymer electrolyte by the elements of titanium alloys (Ti and Fe) are considered. These alloys are used as the material for current collectors/gas-diffusion electrodes, bipolar plates, and other elements of electrolysis system. It is shown that titanium is one of the main impurities that contaminate the membrane and electrocatalytic layers of membrane–electrode assembly in the case that deionized water is used as the reagent. The membrane contamination can lead to the degradation of electrolyzer characteristics and its failure.