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Addressing the challenge of carbon dioxide in anion-exchange membrane fuel cells

Nature Energy (2026)Cite this article

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Abstract

Operating anion-exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) with CO2-containing ambient-air feed is conventionally seen as a difficult challenge detrimental to cell performance, because CO2 reacts with hydroxide ions generated at the cathode, forming (bi)carbonate ions that reduce AEM ionic conductivity. In this Perspective, we discuss the effect of CO2 in operando AEMFCs, which involves a complex interplay of multi-anion transport, concentration polarization, back-diffusion, changes in water distribution, cation stability and variations in local pH. We argue that the negative effects of CO2 may be managed to minimize them, and even exploited to advantage. We introduce two concepts: CO2 management and the positive stabilizing effect of CO2. The first, analogous to the water-management effect, relates to phenomena and strategies to balance, transport and utilize CO2-related species to enhance AEMFC performance. The second, although counterintuitive, relates to the potentially positive effects that CO2 may impart to ambient-air cell operation, in particular towards improving long-term performance stability.

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Fig. 1: Effect of CO2 on membrane conductivity, cell performance and losses in operando AEMFCs.
Fig. 2: Processes governing CO2 transport and transformation in operando AEMFC.
Fig. 3: Model simulation results of the impact of current density on CO2 transport behaviour and ion distribution in operando AEMFCs.
Fig. 4: The effect of CO2 on the stability of ionomeric materials and AEMFC operation.
Fig. 5: Research directions to explore CO2 management in H2–ambient-air AEMFCs.

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Acknowledgements

This work was partially funded by the Nancy & Stephen Grand Technion Energy Program (GTEP), by the Israeli Science Foundation (ISF), grant 169/22, by the Israeli Council for Higher Education, Flagship Initiatives and Applied Research Strategy and International Affairs Division on Sustainability and the Climate Crisis, grant 2072133, and with the support of the Israel National Institute for Energy Storage (INIES). M.D.G. acknowledges the support of the State Key Laboratory of Engines, Tianjin University, China.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Wolfson Department of Chemical Engineering, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel

    Karam Yassin, Sapir Willdorf-Cohen & Dario R. Dekel

  2. The Nancy & Stephen Grand Technion Energy Program (GTEP), Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel

    Karam Yassin & Dario R. Dekel

  3. State Key Laboratory of Engines, School of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China

    Michael D. Guiver

  4. National Industry–Education Platform of Energy Storage, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China

    Michael D. Guiver

  5. Israel National Institute of Energy Storage (INIES), Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel

    Dario R. Dekel

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  1. Karam Yassin
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Correspondence to Dario R. Dekel.

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Yassin, K., Willdorf-Cohen, S., Guiver, M.D. et al. Addressing the challenge of carbon dioxide in anion-exchange membrane fuel cells. Nat Energy (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-026-01999-7

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