Membrane–electrode assembly (MEA) cells are the heart of modern electrochemical devices such as CO2 and water electrolysers. They bring together catalysts, porous layers, and ion-exchange membranes in a compact structure that enables high efficiency and high current operation. Because many reactions and transport processes happen at once, understanding how each MEA component works requires more than measuring its overall performance.

Spatially voltage diagnosis provides this insight. By separating where voltage losses come from catalyst layers, membranes, and interfaces, it becomes possible to identify what limits efficiency and how to improve it. Without this level of detail, important performance issues remain hidden.

Our group is developing advanced tools to make this possible. At the Li Energy Lab, we create new voltage-mapping and microenvironment-sensing techniques that reveal how MEA systems behave under realistic operating conditions. These diagnostic innovations help accelerate better materials, smarter designs, and more reliable electrochemical technologies.