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With the growing demand for sustainable energy, hydrogen is recognized as a key clean energy carrier that can stabilize renewable sources such as solar and wind. Traditional hydrogen production primarily relies on grey hydrogen from fossil fuels, which produces significant CO2 emissions. In contrast, anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) offers a promising pathway to green hydrogen, combining the zero-gap design of proton exchange membrane water electrolysis with the alkaline environment of alkaline water electrolysis. This configuration allows AEMWE to operate with lower KOH concentrations, enhancing safety and enabling cost-effective, earth-abundant transition metals as electrocatalysts for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions. Herein, we examine the fundamental principles of AEMWE, including its cell components, reaction mechanisms, and various in situ characterization methods. Additionally, it explores recent progress in optimizing hydrogen and oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalysts, focusing on both precious and non-precious metal designs. We also discuss the prospects for AEMWE in industrial-level applications, underscoring its potential as an efficient, durable, and economically viable technology for sustainable hydrogen production.
Kim et al. (Mon,) studied this question.