Anion-Exchange Membrane (PiperION, A20-80) for Alkaline Electrolyzer and Fuel Cell, CAEFCAEMP
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PiperION is a cutting-edge Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) and ionomer series developed by Versogen. It is widely considered the state-of-the-art for AEM water electrolysis and fuel cells because it solves the "alkaline stability" problem that plagued earlier generations of anion membranes.
It is composed of ether-free, poly(aryl piperidinium) backbone and cyclic piperidinium group. PiperION is known for achieving "Nafion-like" performance in an alkaline environment. (1) High Conductivity: Hydroxide conductivity (OH-) can exceed 150 mS/cm at 80°C. (2) Low Swelling: Despite high Ion Exchange Capacity (IEC ~2.5 meq/g), the rigid backbone prevents the membrane from becoming a "gel," maintaining mechanical strength when wet. (3) Gas Barrier: Excellent resistance to hydrogen and oxygen crossover, which is critical for the safety and efficiency of high-pressure electrolyzers.
Its main application is AEM Water Electrolysis (AEMWE). (1) The "Nafion Performance" in Base: It allows electrolyzers to reach current densities of >4 A/cm² (at 2V and 80°C), matching the performance of acidic PEM systems. (2) Non-Precious Catalysts: Because the environment is alkaline, the expensive Iridium and Platinum can be replaced with Nickel, Iron (NiFe), and Cobalt catalysts.
The second emerging application is electrochemical CO2 reduction. (1) Zero-Gap CO2 Electrolyzer: Used to convert CO2 waste into Carbon Monoxide (CO), ethylene, or formic acid. (2) High Carbonate Conductance: Unlike other membranes, PiperION maintains high ionic conductivity even when CO2 reacts with hydroxide to form (bi)carbonates. (3) Formic Acid Production: In three-compartment cells, PiperION acts as a barrier that prevents the acidic product from re-mixing with the alkaline fuel, achieving high Faradaic efficiency.
The last application field is about fuel cells. (1) Direct Ammonia Fuel Cells (DAFC): PiperION is a leading material for ammonia-powered transport because it is stable against the corrosive effects of ammonia and high heat (up to 80–95°C). (2) Anion Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (AEMFC): Used with hydrogen and CO2-free air to generate power without platinum-group metal (PGM) catalysts.
| Part Number | CAEFCAEMPA20 | CAEFCAEMPA40 | CAEFCAEMPA60 | CAEFCAEMPA80 |
| Name | A20 | A40 | A60 | A80 |
| Thickness (um) | 20 | 40 | 60 | 80 |
| Reinforcement | None (Self-supporting) | None (Self-supporting) | None (Self-supporting) | None (Self-supporting) |
| Backbone | Poly(aryl piperidinium) | Poly(aryl piperidinium) | Poly(aryl piperidinium) | Poly(aryl piperidinium) |
| Ion Type | Cyclic piperidinium | Cyclic piperidinium | Cyclic piperidinium | Cyclic piperidinium |
| Ion Exchange Capacity (IEC) | ~2.35 meq/g | ~2.35 meq/g | ~2.35 meq/g | ~2.35 meq/g |
| Conductivity | ~150 mS/cm (OH- form at 80 deg C) | ~150 mS/cm (OH- form at 80 deg C) | - | ~150 mS/cm (OH- form at 80 deg C) |
| Water Uptake | 50% (at 80 deg C in 1M KOH) | 50% (at 80 deg C in 1M KOH) | - | 50% (at 80 deg C in 1M KOH) |
| Typical Use Case | CO2 Electrolysis | CO2 Electrolysis & AEM Water Electrolysis | AEM Water Electrolysis | AEM Water Electrolysis |
| Package Grade | 10cm * 10cm/pcs/pack | 10cm * 10cm/pcs/pack | 10cm * 10cm/pcs/pack | 10cm * 10cm/pcs/pack |
Use Note:
(1) Hydration: Soak in DI water to allow the polymer to reach equilibrium.
(2) Conversion: The membrane is often shipped in the Bicarbonate (HCO3^-) or Chloride (Cl-) form. It is supposed to be placed in 1M KOH for 12–24 hours to convert it to the active Hydroxide (OH-) form.
(3) CO2 Protection: Once in the OH- form, keep the membrane away from open air. It will react with CO2 to form carbonates, which significantly lowers its conductivity.