Li‐Doping and Pyrolysis Engineered Robust Anode for Intermittency‐Resilient AEM Electrolysis

Abstract

The future of green hydrogen production via anion exchange membrane (AEM) water electrolysis lies in its integration with fluctuating renewable energy sources. However, the intermittent nature of renewables imposes stringent demands on the dynamic stability of highly active electrodes. To resolve this trade‐off between activity and stability of nickel‐based catalysts, this contribution describes a Li‐doping strategy coupled with pyrolysis to engineer a self‐supported nickel‐iron‐cobalt‐lithium oxide anode on nickel felt. Pyrolysis yields a dense, crystalline oxide lattice that is firmly anchored to the substrate, while Li incorporation induces lattice contraction and reinforces metal–oxygen bonds, significantly suppressing active metal dissolution. Simultaneously, Li‐driven electronic‐structure modulation enhances charge transfer and accelerates pre‐oxidation, collectively boosting oxygen evolution kinetics. The electrode achieves a low overpotential of 293 mV at 100 mA cm−2, endures 500 h of steady‐state operation at 500 mA cm−2 with negligible decay, and demonstrates exceptional resilience under simulated power fluctuations. In a custom AEM electrolyzer, it delivers a high current density of 2000 mA cm−2 at 1.90 V, exhibits a low degradation rate of 0.09 mV h−1 at 1000 mA cm−2, and withstands 100 h of 60 s start/stop operation (3000 cycles). This work offers a compelling pathway to accelerate the development of green hydrogen by engineering electrodes that combine favorable activity with robust durability, enabling seamless integration with cost‐effective, intermittent renewable energy sources.