What does this research mean for the field?

Current reverse-bias bipolar membranes in CO2 electrolyzers achieve a maximum water dissociation efficiency of 98%, which falls short of the >99.8% required for long-term stability, necessitating additional strategies like anolyte regeneration or the use of platinum group metal anodes. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

November 17, 2025Nature Chemical Engineering12 citationsOpen Access

Water dissociation efficiencies control the viability of reverse-bias bipolar membranes for CO2 electrolysis

GVGerard Prats VergelDelft University of Technology HMHuan Sheng MuChina National Offshore Oil Corporation (China)NKNikita KolobovDelft University of Technology

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Abstract

Abstract Bipolar membranes operated under reverse-bias (r-BPM) provide the only potential route to use anodes free of platinum group metals in CO 2 electrolyzers when paired with the oxygen evolution reaction. Under 100% water dissociation efficiency (WDE) conditions, the OH − generated by a r-BPM fully replenishes the OH − consumed by the oxygen evolution reaction, maintaining an alkaline anolyte. However, unwanted co-ion crossover leads to 99.8% are required to operate for >10,000 h with reasonable anolyte volumes. Our results show that r-BPMs CO 2 electrolyzers require additional strategies, such as reverting to platinum group metal anodes or regenerating the anolyte, to operate stably at an industrial scale.

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