Electrolyte-free electrochemical oxygen generator for providing sterile and medical-grade oxygen in household applications

As COVID-19 coexists with humans, the need for home oxygen (O2) generators has grown, especially for those with heart and lung conditions. This study presents a prototype of an electrolyte-free proton-exchange membrane electrochemical oxygen generator (EOG) that uses pure water for safe, high-performance operation. The development of a novel oxygen evolution reaction catalyst, PtxIryRu1-x-yO2, and an efficient membrane electrode assembly has improved the EOG's performance, achieving a 1 L min−1 oxygen production rate and over 600 h of stability. Furthermore, the EOG demonstrates several distinct advantages for medical applications, including (1) directly producing sterile and medical-grade O2 (purity >99.5%), (2) supporting nearly instantaneous O2 supply for emergency (startup time <1 s), (3) supporting portable application due to its light weight (<2 kg) and compact size (1 dm3), and (4) ensuring a quiet operating condition for patients (<45 dB). The EOG, boasting unique application advantages, significantly outperforms commercial pressure swing adsorption devices, thereby showcasing its considerable potential for future applications.