Recent advances in materials and system components of anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers for green hydrogen production

The worldwide shift to clean energy has increased the emphasis on sustainable methods of producing hydrogen. The development of Anion Exchange Membrane Electrolyzers (AEMWEs) poses a notable challenge that has garnered increasing attention, as they combine the cost benefits of alkaline electrolysis with the effectiveness of proton exchange systems, facilitating the utilization of readily accessible, non-precious metal catalysts. This review article provides a critical evaluation of recent advancements in Anion Exchange Membrane Electrolyzer (AEMWE) research, encompassing developments in membrane design, optimization of electrocatalysts, gas diffusion layers, coatings for bipolar plates (BPPs), and the overall system architecture. The emphasis is on evaluating performance under various operating conditions, in addition to considerations such as durability constraints, cost-performance balances, and standards for material choice. With the synthesis of experimental results and literature knowledge, this review establishes what has been previously achieved, what bottlenecks remain, and in what directions future work needs to proceed. The paper concludes with an emphasis on the need for strong, scalable designs and the use of next-generation materials to make AEMWEs a feasible and viable route for industrial-scale green hydrogen production.