(Press-News.org) Anion exchange membrane (AEM) water electrolysis is widely recognized as a key technology for next-generation green hydrogen production. Currently, most AEM systems rely on alkaline supporting electrolytes such as potassium hydroxide, which can cause issues including bipolar plate corrosion, shunt current, and accelerated membrane degradation.
Achieving stable operation with pure water feed is the goal for AEM water electrolysis. However, obstacles remain such as the instability of the membrane-electrode three-phase interface, limited current density, and poor durability.
In a study published in Advanced Energy Materials, a team led by Prof. SHAO Zhigang and Prof. ZHAO Yun from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences enhanced the durability of pure water-fed AEM electrolysis, which achieves over 2,400 hours of stable operation through membrane-electrode interface engineering.
To develop a new type of AEM composite membrane, researchers used poly(ether-ether-ketone) (PEEK), known for its strong mechanical properties, as the base membrane, and introduced quaternized polystyrene (QPS) with a low glass transition temperature as the resin.
During the hot-pressing process and cell operation, the QPS material transitioned from a glassy state to a highly elastic state, acting like a "glue," which not only reinforced the bonding strength of the membrane-electrode interface but also facilitated efficient hydroxide ion (OH-) transport.
Experiments showed that the interfacial bonding strength between the composite membrane and the electrode was two orders of magnitude higher than that of the traditional poly(aryl piperidine) membrane with a high glass transition temperature above 200℃. The optimized membrane-electrode structure enhanced OH- transport, enabling pure water electrolysis system to reach a current density of 1,200 mA cm-2 at 80 ℃ and 1.8 V.
The system achieved continuous operation for 2,464 hours at 500 mA cm-2. Besides, a large-area 160 cm2 cell ran continuously for 160 hours at 200 mA cm-2, demonstrating the strong potential for industrial application. "Our work represents an important step toward scalable, industrially relevant green hydrogen production using AEM technology," said Prof. SHAO.
END
Researchers enhance durability of pure water-fed anion exchange membrane electrolysis
2025-11-18
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
How growth hormone excess accelerates liver aging via glycation stress
2025-11-18
“Glycation-lowering strategies may serve as effective treatments for alleviating GH-induced metabolic and inflammatory disruptions in the liver, offering a promising avenue for addressing age-related metabolic diseases associated with GH dysregulation.”
BUFFALO, NY — November 18, 2025 — A new research paper was published in Volume 17, Issue 10 of Aging-US on October 3, 2025, titled “Growth hormone excess drives liver aging via increased glycation stress.”
In this study, led by first author Parminder Singh ...
State-of-the-art multimodal imaging and therapeutic strategies in radiation-induced brain injury
2025-11-18
Radiation-induced brain injury (RIBI) is a serious and often delayed complication of cranial radiotherapy, which remains a cornerstone in the treatment of brain tumors such as gliomas, metastases, and lymphomas. While modern radiotherapy techniques have improved survival rates, they have also led to an increased incidence of RIBI, adversely affecting patients' neurological function and quality of life. This review synthesizes recent advances in multimodal imaging and emerging therapeutic strategies for RIBI, highlighting the shift from conventional symptomatic management to mechanism-driven, precision interventions.
Pathophysiological Mechanisms ...
Updates in chronic subdural hematoma: from epidemiology, pathogenesis, and diagnosis to treatment
2025-11-18
Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is one of the most common neurosurgical conditions, particularly among the elderly, with an annual incidence ranging from 1.7 to 20.6 per 100,000 people. As the global population ages and the use of antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapies increases, the incidence of CSDH is projected to rise significantly. Despite its clinical prevalence, treatment options have seen limited breakthroughs over the past two decades, largely due to an incomplete understanding of its pathophysiology. This review provides a comprehensive overview ...
Team studies beryllium-7 variations over Antarctic regions of the Southern Ocean
2025-11-18
A Japanese research team has studied the variations in beryllium-7 concentrations in the surface air over the Antarctic regions of Southern Ocean. Beryllium-7 is a radioactive isotope of beryllium produced by cosmic rays in the atmosphere. The team explored, over space and time, how the beryllium-7 is transported from the atmosphere to the Earth’s surface. Their goal was to better understand the mechanisms of atmospheric mixing on Earth.
Their research is published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres on October 14, 2025.
“We aimed to clarify where and by what atmospheric flows the radioactive isotope beryllium-7, produced in the stratosphere ...
SwRI identifies security vulnerability in EV charging protocol
2025-11-18
SAN ANTONIO — November 18, 2025 — Southwest Research Institute identified a security vulnerability in a standard protocol governing communications between electric vehicles (EV) and EV charging equipment. The research prompted the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to issue a security advisory related to the ISO 15118 vehicle-to-grid communications standard.
Through internal research, a team of SwRI engineers spoofed signal measurements between an EV and EV supply equipment (EVSE), leading to CISA’s publication of a Common ...
Zap Energy exceeds gigapascal fusion plasma pressures on new fusion device, FuZE-3
2025-11-18
Operating a new device named the Fusion Z-pinch Experiment 3, or FuZE-3, Zap Energy has now achieved plasmas with electron pressures as high as 830 megapascals (MPa), or 1.6 gigapascals (GPa) total, comparable to the pressures found deep below Earth’s crust. The results are the highest-pressure performance to date in a sheared-flow-stabilized Z pinch and an important marker on the path to scientific energy gain, or Q>1.
FuZE-3 is Zap’s first device to incorporate a third electrode to separate the forces that drive plasma acceleration and compression. Details of the preliminary results were presented today at the American Physical Society’s Division of Plasma ...
Noncredit training at community colleges linked to earnings gains
2025-11-18
Washington, November 18, 2025—Students who enroll in short-term, job-focused training through community college noncredit programs experience modest but meaningful earnings gains and a greater likelihood of being employed after training, according to a new study published today in Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Educational Research Association.
The study, conducted by Peter Riley Bahr of the Strada Institute for the Future of Work and Rooney Columbus of E&E Analytics, finds that workers earn about $2,000 more per year, on average, within two years of ...
The American Pediatric Society names Dr. Tara O. Henderson as the recipient of the 2026 Norman J. Siegel New Member Outstanding Science Award
2025-11-18
November 18, 2025 – The American Pediatric Society (APS) is pleased to announce Tara O. Henderson, MD, MPH, as the recipient of the 2026 Norman J. Siegel New Member Outstanding Science Award, in recognition of her significant contributions to pediatric science. The award will be presented to Dr. Henderson during the APS Presidential Plenary at the Pediatric Academic Societies 2026 Meeting, taking place in Boston, MA, April 24-27.
Established in honor of renowned nephrologist Norman J. Siegel, MD, FASN, the award celebrates early-career APS members whose scientific work demonstrates ...
Muscle protein linked to exercise opens new way to treat Alzheimer’s
2025-11-18
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a devastating cause of memory loss and cognitive decline, for which no curative treatment is available. Among lifestyle factors, physical activity stands out as possibly one of the strongest defenders of brain health.
Growing evidence links skeletal muscle function to cognitive health. Pioneering research from Florida Atlantic University and its collaborators at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research takes this evidence to the next level, revealing that the key to fighting AD may lie not just in the brain – but also in our muscles.
At the center of this discovery is Cathepsin ...
Study reveals how quiet political connections help corporations win contracts
2025-11-18
A study published in Strategic Management Journal sheds light on the subtle yet significant role that unelected officials play in helping corporations secure successful contract bids.
The research, led by Dr. Tony L. He of Rutgers Business School in Newark, N.J., analyzed a dataset of 14,849 public procurement contracts across 28 European countries between 2011 and 2017.
“My research shows that, contrary to what many might expect, in this particular context it’s not the flashy connections to powerful elected officials that help firms most,” Dr. He explained. “Instead, ...