Style of membrane/diaphragm NiO Catalyst material on the anode Ni/Co/Fe Anode PTL material Ti/Ni/zirconium | Bipolar/separator plate material Stainless steel Catalyst material on the cathode Ni/C-Pt | |
Type of Electrolysis: Alkaline Water Electrolysis | ||
Alkaline water electrolysis has a long history in the chemical industry. It is a type of electrolyzer that is characterized by having two electrodes operating in a liquid alkaline electrolyte solution of potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide. These electrodes are separated by a diaphragm, separating the product gases and transporting the hydroxide ions from one electrode to the other. A recent comparison showed that state-of-the-art nickel based water electrolyzers with alkaline electrolytes lead to competitive or even better efficiencies than acidic polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis with platinum group metal based electrocatalysts.
Electrolysis requires minerals to be present in solution, tap, well, and ground water contain various minerals which are both alkaline and acidic. Water above a pH of 7.0 is considered alkaline, below 7.0 it is acidic. Electrolysis can occur only if the water is acid or alkaline, the requirement is that there are ions in the water to conduct electricity for the water electrolysis process to occur.