Degradation of Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzers in Accelerated Stress Tests of Dynamic Load Cycling

Abstract

Proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) is a promising technology for harnessing intermittent renewable energy. This study experimentally investigates the degradation of PEMWE under fluctuating power supply, characterized by dynamic load cycling under accelerated stress test (AST). We focus on the effects of key parameters of dynamic loading, including the peak voltage and cycling frequency, in a set of simplified AST protocols designed to represent selected features of dynamic load fluctuations associated with variable renewable-energy operation. The results unveil the intricate relationship between the structural characteristics of the catalyst layer and the electrochemical performance. An elevated peak voltage accelerates the degradation in the initial phase of the AST. However, a low cycling frequency can mitigate the degradation by limiting the rise in various resistance forms, whereas a higher cycling frequency exacerbates the degradation primarily by increasing mass transport resistance, suggesting a frequency-sensitive deterioration of the system's components.