Membrane Electrode Assembly Electrolyzer

Advanced Multi-layer Electrochemical Device for High Efficiency Reactions The zero-gap design reduces ohmic resistance Product Details | Gallery | In the Box | Related Products | Technical Support A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) electrolyzer is a layered advanced electrochemical device designed for high-efficiency electrochemical reactions. MEA electrolyzer features a multilayer structure with a proton exchange membrane (PEM) or anion exchange membrane (AEM) sitting right in the centre of the device, sandwiched between catalyst loaded anode and cathode layers, and then sided by the gas-diffusion layers (GDL). The PEM or AEM is semi-permeable polymer membrane that physically divides the cell into two separate half-cells. The separation prevents the product gases from mixing while the membrane actively conducts ions to complete the electrical circuit. The anode and cathode are core where the electrochemical reaction taking place. The anode and cathode plates, also known as bipolar plates, flow field plates, or current collectors, are primarily made from materials requiring high electrical conductivity, thermal stability, and corrosion resistance. Common anode and cathode plate materials are titanium, stainless steel, nickel, platinum coated, or gold coated metals. Ion-exchange membrane Allows ions to migrate while prevents the gas permeation Sandwich structure Membrane sandwiched between Cathode and Anode layers and sided by GDLs Zero-gap Configuration Reducing ohmic resistance Expert Support From in-house scientists & our customer care team The common applications of MEA electrolyser are fuel cells, water electrolyzers, and carbon dioxide reduction. The following are choices of S-channel materials for the MEA electrolyser. All flow channels are single S-shaped serpentine flow channels, with a width and depth of 1.5 mm. Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) Electrolytic Cell assembly Diagram (Gaskets available with different thickness) Choosing the S-Channel (flow field) material guide Carbon Dioxide Reduction Reaction (CO2RR): titanium, 316L stainless steel, gold-plated titanium, or stainless steel cathode and titanium anode PEM Water Electrolysis: titanium, 316L stainless steel, platinum-plated titanium or platinum-plated stainless steel AEM Water Electrolysis: titanium, nickel, or gold-plated nickel. Note: The intermediate flow plate s-channel material available in stock is titanium (Ta2). Flow channel sizes are available in 10mm*10mm, 20mm*20mm. Please contact us for further information if you want custom made MEA electrolyzer of different channel materials, i.e. nickel, stainless steel, or gold/platinum plated metals. Major differences in PEM and AEM: Features PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) AEM (Anion Exchange Membrane) Operating Condition Highly Acidic Slightly Alkaline Reactions at Electrodes Anode: H2O → 2H+ + 1/2O2 + 2e- Cathode: 2H+ + 2e- → H2 Anode: 2OH- → H2O + 1/2O2 + 2e- Cathode: 2H2O + 2e- → H2 + 2OH- Catalysts Precious metals like platinum and iridium Low-cost metals like nickel or cobalt Cost Higher Lower Water Purity Required High-purity, demineralized water Lower water purity, slightly alkaline solutions Benefits Higher efficiency with proven durability and maturity; High-pressure operation and dynamic load capability Lower capital costs and no highly corrosive chemicals with system simplicity and compactness Maturity Fully commercialized and widely used in large-scale applications Still in the emerging/R&D stage, with growing field data Recommended Channel Materials Titanium (Ta2), 316L stainless steel, platinum-plated titanium or platinum-plated stainless steel Titanium (Ta2), nickel, or gold-plated nickel Key features of the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) electrolytic cell A sandwich structure: The MEA consists of a cathode, an anode, and a membrane sandwiched between them, sided by GDLs. Ion-exchange membrane: The membrane allows ions to migrate while prevents the gas permeation and products to mix, which is critical for efficiency and safety in applications like fuel cells and water electrolysis. The membrane also separates the anode and cathode, providing electrical insulation between the two sides of the cell. Zero-gap design: The zero-gap design minimizes the distance between the membrane and the electrodes to reduce ohmic resistance. Specifications Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) Electrolytic Cell Dimension Diagram Product code Channel Material Chanel Size C2050A1 Titanium 10mm*10mm C2050B1 Titanium 20mm*20mm Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) Electrolytic Cell Gasket Dimension Diagram FKM Gasket Thickness: 0.2 mm 0.3 mm 0.8 mm 1.0 mm PTFE Gasket Thickness: 0.25 mm Membrane Electrode Assembly Electrolyzer Gallery Previous Next In the Box Titanium Cell Anode & cathode Contact leads PEEK Gas inlet/ Outlet Screws Push-fit Gas locks PTFE 0.25 mm thick Gasket FKM 0.2 mm thick Gasket FKM 0.3 mm thick Gasket FKM 0.8 mm thick Gasket FKM 1.0 mm thick Gasket 1m Potentiostat PTFE Tubing PTFE White Tape x1 Spare gas O-rings Spare Flow Feild O-rings PTFE Rod 3mm air inlet stopper x4 Gas Tube cutter Spare washes and Screws Related Products Electrochemical Cells Spectro- electrochemical Cells MEA Electrolyzers Literature and Reviews K. Kamiya et al. (2025), Gaseous CO2 electrolysis: latest advances in electrode and electrolyzer technologies toward abating CO2 emissions, Chem. Sci., 2026, 17, 4363-4374; DOI: 10.1039/D5SC08419A. M. Hussain et al. (2025), Boosting electrochemical CO2 reduction to CO by regulating pressure in zero-gap electrolyzer, J. CO2 Until., 100, 103179; DOI: 10.1016/j.jcou.2025.103179. J. Lee et al. (2024), Best Practices in Membrane Electrode Assembly for Water Electrolysis, ACS Materials Lett., 6 (7), 2757–2786; DOI: 10.1021/acsmaterialslett.4c00699. Q. Ren et al. (2025), Temperature impact on zero-gap CO2 electrolyzers, Cell Rep. Phys. Sci., 6, (9), 102802; DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrp.2025.102802. P. Guan et al. (2026), Strategies for Lowering Hydrogen Permeation in Membranes for Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzers and Fuel Cells, Adv. Mater., 38 (4), e08400; DOI: 10.1002/adma.202508400.