Anion Exchange Membrane Electrolysis

Anion exchange membrane electrolysis, or AEM electrolysis, is the electrolysis of water using a semipermeable membrane that conducts hydroxide ions, called an anion exchange membrane. Like a proton exchange membrane, the anion exchange membrane separates the reaction products and provides electrical insulation between the electrodes while conducting ions, but where a proton exchange membrane conducts protons, an anion exchange membrane conducts hydroxide ions instead. AEM electrolysis remains in an early research and development stage, positioned between mature alkaline water electrolysis and commercially established proton exchange membrane electrolysis, and one of its advantages is that it does not require a high-cost noble metal catalyst, since a low-cost transition metal catalyst can be used instead.