Water Electrolysis by the Direct Water Supply to the Solid Polymer Electrolyte through the Interdigitated Structure of the Electrode

Abstract

Water electrolysis cell in which the product gases was separated from liquid water on the surface of the electrode was developed. In order to realize the separation between gas and water, interdigitated diffusion layer (GDL) was designed, and the surface of the GDL was covered by catalyst to form electrode. When the pressurized water was supplied, the water directly made a contact to the proton conductive membrane. Due to the hydrophobic surface condition of the GDLs, gas/water separation along the surface of the electrode was completed.