Recent advances in Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis: catalysts, membranes, and MEA engineering

Abstract Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis (AEMWE) offers a promising pathway to low-cost green hydrogen by combining the Platinum Group Metal (PGM) free catalyst compatibility of alkaline systems with the compact, high-current-density architecture of Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzers. However, deployment remains constrained by membrane degradation, ionomer oxidation at high potentials, and dissolution-redeposition of metal species that limit long-term durability. This study provides an overview of recent advances across catalysts, membranes, and cell engineering. We highlight state-of-the-art low-PGM catalysts, defect-engineered structures, and electronically coupled heterointerfaces that deliver high activity and conductivity. We also discuss key membrane requirements such as hydroxide ion conductivity, chemical robustness, and gas-crossover suppression, along with widely used anion-exchange membranes and ionomers. MEA strategies, from catalyst-coated membranes to hybrid CCM/CCS architectures and zero-gap operation, are evaluated for their effects on interfacial resistance, gas management, and scalable fabrication. We outline current achievements, remaining bottlenecks, and future research directions toward durable, scalable AEMWE. Graphical abstract